Less Hustle, More Strategy: How To Plan for a Promotion
Reading Time: 4 minutes
As driven professionals, many of us strive for some sort of promotion at work - it's this little common denominator called "ambition!" However, you shouldn't have to work 80-hour weeks to be valued enough to get a raise or to move up the corporate ladder. Instead of spinning your wheels and experiencing burnout, come up with a strategic plan to set yourself apart from your coworkers!
STEP 1: CREATE YOUR 30/60/90 DAY PLAN
Having a clear and comprehensive 30/60/90 day plan can help you strategize and organize the most effective methods for reaching your goals! Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) vary between industries and companies, so you have to do your research to ensure these goals fit your industry and your company.
For example, suppose you are a Marketing Coordinator looking to move into a Manager role. In that case, your 30-day goals may include increasing the click-through rates on your company's website, the open rates of email blasts, or the followers on social media. Your 60-day goals may include completing an online course in your field and consuming a certain amount of educational content on management. Your 90-day goals may include implementing a new strategy based on your expertise to improve your department's efficiency.
STEP 2: REVIEW YOUR PLAN WITH YOUR MANAGER
The last thing you want to do is work super hard on the "wrong" things. While personal research is fundamental and will show your manager that you are serious about moving to the next level, there's no better way to confirm you are on the right track than hearing it directly from the source.
Send a copy of your plan to your manager and schedule a meeting to review it. Let her/him know in advance that you will be looking for feedback on the plan. Make adjustments as needed based on her/his feedback. Remember, it's essential to make sure you're not just doing a lot but instead, you are doing the RIGHT things.
STEP 3: INCREMENTALLY REVIEW (AND CELEBRATE) PROGRESS
To ensure that you stay on track and successfully hit all of your targets, you should do self-review and manager-review at each benchmark to assess your progress. When it comes to your manager's review, don't simply ask, "Do you have any feedback for me?" Ask specific-pointed questions based on your plan. Ask, "What is one thing I should do in the next 30 days to take this plan to the next level?"
As a small source of additional motivation, treat yourself to something nice as you pass each milestone! For example, if you successfully meet or exceed your goals for the 30-day mark, treat yourself to a new pair of killer pumps or oxfords to pair with those power suits you'll be wearing to the office!
All in all, you want to make sure that you are working smarter, not harder, to accomplish your dreams. We want to help you have a healthy work-life balance, and do it in style!
Need help planning for your promotion? Book your strategy session today!
