YOU ARE a consistent, top performer in your company and have years of satisfactory and loyal work to your credit. You assume that you are obviously `next in line' and the upcoming promotion is yours for the taking! As you weave daydreams around the new position, a rude shock knocks you out of your reverie. The dreams go kaput as someone else leapfrogs over you to win the coveted position. To add insult to injury, the alleged `someone' has lesser experience and skills than you. All that you are left with is a gut-wrenching feeling of déjà vu. Yes, this is not the first time...
In today's dog-eat-dog world, presuming that a promotion will be handed to you on a platter is like living in a fool's paradise. You cannot afford to don the rose-tinted glasses and sit back and wait for the promotion to land in your lap, however deserving you may be. You will remain glued to the rung you are on while others walk all over you on their way up the career ladder.
However, missing out on an expected promotion does not mean that you wallow in self-pity, forever. It is time to sit up and take stock of the situation. Decide -
Did you really deserve it?
It is time to call a spade a spade. As Rowan Manahan of Fortify Services, a career management firm, points out, `Everyone thinks that they are `promotable' and most people will at some stage feel they were overlooked for promotion'. Take an honest look at yourself and determine whether your skills, experience and personality really `fit in' with the position. Examine the person who landed the promotion and work out what he has that you lack.
Do you really want it?
Peruse the job description of the position in question. Is it something that you really want and is in sync with your goals and dreams? Or, is it just a case of a wounded ego lamenting over being overlooked? Re-evaluate your priorities, decide what you really want and then work towards it.
Swallow the bitter pill
If you have answered yes to the above questions, then feelings of anger, disillusionment and unworthiness will take root. Try not to embitter yourself over the rejection - it is not a reflection of your abilities. Neither is it the end of the world. You win some and lose some; it is all part of the game. Afterall, the best person for a job is not always the one who gets it.
Bite the bullet
Remember the words of Yogi Berra, `It ain't over until it's over'. There's always a next time. If you are sick and tired of being almost there, but never there, here's how to tip the scales in your favour the next time around:
Politics, politics: Conniving and sly bootlickers always have and always will get promoted over worthy souls. Thus, working with your nose stuck to the grindstone is not sufficient to take you places as abilities and performance take a backseat to politics. Career counsellor Janet Scarborough says, `Individuals often underestimate the importance of organisational politics while overestimating the role of skills and accomplishments'. You have to indulge in some clever manoeuvring and networking to get the cake.
Action man: Merely working diligently will only get you a pat on the back as you continue to hover on the sidelines. As Mr. Manahan affirms, `Its not about good old-fashioned IQ and hard work any more. The notion of promotion based on sheer ability went out with the old shilling and the job for life.' You have to work smarter to get yourself on the radar of the powers-that-matter. Volunteer for tasks and do things with more creativity and pizzazz to gain an unfair advantage over others.
Create your own Greek chorus: Making a song and dance of your achievements may go against the grain. But, you cannot afford to rest on your past laurels and expect them to do the talking. Like Donald Trump observed, `If you don't tell people about your success, they probably won't know about it'. You yourself have to broadcast your achievements; or else you will be left behind. Try to subtly weave your accomplishments in casual conversation without blatantly winging for a promotion.
Let go off ambivalence: Some people write off a missed promotion as a bad innings as they don't want to rock the boat unnecessarily. It makes them fall into a lackadaisical rut of their own making. You have to wake up and take control of your career. Enough of marketing products, now market yourself! Make the boss realise that you are worthy of a promotion and press for appropriate advancement.
Meet the boss: Approach your boss and calmly talk out the situation with him. Hitting the roof with cribs about the just-promoted colleague will only paint you in a green light. Instead solicit feedback on where you fall short and need improvement. Also, remind him that you are in the market for a promotion.
A victim of bias: At times, it may be a clear-cut case of favouritism or discrimination - gender, age or caste. If that is the case, gather sufficient proof and get hold of a good lawyer pronto!
Make the most of these tried-and-tested tips and instead of always being within an ace of advancement, this time you will romp home with the promotion in your pocket!
In today's dog-eat-dog world, presuming that a promotion will be handed to you on a platter is like living in a fool's paradise. You cannot afford to don the rose-tinted glasses and sit back and wait for the promotion to land in your lap, however deserving you may be. You will remain glued to the rung you are on while others walk all over you on their way up the career ladder.
However, missing out on an expected promotion does not mean that you wallow in self-pity, forever. It is time to sit up and take stock of the situation. Decide -
Did you really deserve it?
It is time to call a spade a spade. As Rowan Manahan of Fortify Services, a career management firm, points out, `Everyone thinks that they are `promotable' and most people will at some stage feel they were overlooked for promotion'. Take an honest look at yourself and determine whether your skills, experience and personality really `fit in' with the position. Examine the person who landed the promotion and work out what he has that you lack.
Do you really want it?
Peruse the job description of the position in question. Is it something that you really want and is in sync with your goals and dreams? Or, is it just a case of a wounded ego lamenting over being overlooked? Re-evaluate your priorities, decide what you really want and then work towards it.
Swallow the bitter pill
If you have answered yes to the above questions, then feelings of anger, disillusionment and unworthiness will take root. Try not to embitter yourself over the rejection - it is not a reflection of your abilities. Neither is it the end of the world. You win some and lose some; it is all part of the game. Afterall, the best person for a job is not always the one who gets it.
Bite the bullet
Remember the words of Yogi Berra, `It ain't over until it's over'. There's always a next time. If you are sick and tired of being almost there, but never there, here's how to tip the scales in your favour the next time around:
Politics, politics: Conniving and sly bootlickers always have and always will get promoted over worthy souls. Thus, working with your nose stuck to the grindstone is not sufficient to take you places as abilities and performance take a backseat to politics. Career counsellor Janet Scarborough says, `Individuals often underestimate the importance of organisational politics while overestimating the role of skills and accomplishments'. You have to indulge in some clever manoeuvring and networking to get the cake.
Action man: Merely working diligently will only get you a pat on the back as you continue to hover on the sidelines. As Mr. Manahan affirms, `Its not about good old-fashioned IQ and hard work any more. The notion of promotion based on sheer ability went out with the old shilling and the job for life.' You have to work smarter to get yourself on the radar of the powers-that-matter. Volunteer for tasks and do things with more creativity and pizzazz to gain an unfair advantage over others.
Create your own Greek chorus: Making a song and dance of your achievements may go against the grain. But, you cannot afford to rest on your past laurels and expect them to do the talking. Like Donald Trump observed, `If you don't tell people about your success, they probably won't know about it'. You yourself have to broadcast your achievements; or else you will be left behind. Try to subtly weave your accomplishments in casual conversation without blatantly winging for a promotion.
Let go off ambivalence: Some people write off a missed promotion as a bad innings as they don't want to rock the boat unnecessarily. It makes them fall into a lackadaisical rut of their own making. You have to wake up and take control of your career. Enough of marketing products, now market yourself! Make the boss realise that you are worthy of a promotion and press for appropriate advancement.
Meet the boss: Approach your boss and calmly talk out the situation with him. Hitting the roof with cribs about the just-promoted colleague will only paint you in a green light. Instead solicit feedback on where you fall short and need improvement. Also, remind him that you are in the market for a promotion.
A victim of bias: At times, it may be a clear-cut case of favouritism or discrimination - gender, age or caste. If that is the case, gather sufficient proof and get hold of a good lawyer pronto!
Make the most of these tried-and-tested tips and instead of always being within an ace of advancement, this time you will romp home with the promotion in your pocket!
PAYAL CHANANIA
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