It’s 2022 and we need to update our approach to career progression.
Women have been listening to outdated advice for too long, and it’s time to shake things up. If you are a professional woman looking to advance in your career, there are proven techniques and strategies on how to do it.
Here’s what you need to know about upgrading your approach to career progression—and how to remove fear in the process!
An Outdated Career Advancement Approach
So, what do I mean when I talk about an outdated approach?
Simply put, it’s one that relies on hard work alone. The reality is that hard work alone does not result in career advancement, and neither does a proactive approach.
If you’re relying only on your hard work or doing the “right things” (i.e., new projects, mentorship, upskilling), you are stopping just short of the mark. It’s similar to going to the effort of getting cozy on the couch and grabbing your snacks, but never actually picking a movie to watch.
There’s a better way to approach career advancement
An Upgraded Career Advancement Approach
Research tells us that everyone—but especially women—are afraid of posting their boss for advancement. There is a lot of fear around this because you don’t want to ruin the chance or be seen differently for asking.
We’d all rather be approached by our boss for advancement. And while this may happen to some people, it usually doesn’t. Or your boss doesn’t know your career goals so they offer something you’re not interested in.
This is where it becomes really important to speak up about your career advancement goals.
Your body will probably try to sabotage your efforts by bringing up a fear response, causing you to freeze or flee the situation. However, if you push past those fears by developing an intentional plan, you can set yourself on a promotion path to your dream job.
A successful career advancement strategy includes following the law of reciprocity: when you give first, someone is more likely to give back to you. So, what are you going to give to your boss?
Two things:
- Solve problems and challenges for your boss
- Bring in new ideas and initiatives to support your boss and company’s goals
This approach is showing your future value—how you’re going to help your boss and company go further. You’re giving them what they want so they can give you what you want (i.e., career advancement).
The only way to do this, though, is to tell your boss what you can offer and what you are looking for. This direct approach to career advancement is an upgraded way to reach your goals—no more waiting around for your boss to approach you.
I hope this has made you think about your approach to career advancement. If you’re looking for a way to reach your career goals, join the My Promotion Plan masterclass. It’s designed to give women practical steps to build their promotion plan and move from passed over to promoted.
With your own unique personal promotion plan, you can go into your boss’ office with confidence and ask for what you want for your career advancement journey.