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    How to Get Promoted at Work: 10 Effective Strategies

    Professional seated at desk using laptop
    • 27 Apr 2023
    Michele Reynolds Author Staff
    tag
    • Career Development

    As Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it." If you want to advance your career but don’t know where to start, here are some things you can do to get promoted at work.


    Free E-Book: A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills

    Access your free e-book today.

    DOWNLOAD NOW

    How to Get Promoted Successfully

    1. Be a Model Employee

    Rule number one for being a good employee is to always be on time and ready to go. Even if you work in a culture that runs behind schedule, it’s better to be on time—or even early—each day and to every meeting.

    If you’re leading the meeting, show up with an agenda and be an active timekeeper. It’s a sign that you’re organized, respect people’s time, and serve as a role model to peers. At the end of the meeting, give a quick recap and identify next steps.

    2. Solve Problems, Don't Just Identify Them

    One of the best ways to stand out as a budding leader—regardless of your current role—is to be self-sufficient and demonstrate solid judgment. Doing so won’t just set you apart as a critical asset to your team but also serve as a tactic to further develop your leadership skills. A helpful mantra is, “Be a problem solver, not a problem identifier.”

    When you raise an issue to your boss, also propose a solution. Busy leaders often get bogged down by solving every problem their team faces. Do your boss a favor and find workarounds rather than just surface issues.

    Related: Why Problem-Solving Skills Are Essential for Leaders in Any Industry

    3. Respect Your Boss's Time

    Be considerate of your boss’s time. Before asking for help, consider the level of urgency and try solving the problem—or at least brainstorm a plan of action to run by your manager. Making an attempt first will demonstrate you know how to take initiative.

    For things that require your boss’s intervention but aren’t time-sensitive, keep a running list of items to discuss. Ask if you can get some time on your manager’s calendar and outline what you’d like to discuss in your meeting invite so you both come prepared.

    Related: How to Be More Productive at Work

    4. Don't Be a Squeaky Wheel

    Perhaps most important is a can-do attitude. Anything you can do to minimize your boss’s workload will likely benefit you in the long run. You can help by volunteering to take on something new or brainstorm solutions when a crisis pops up.

    Baseball great Wade Boggs once said, “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It’s a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.”

    So, whatever you do, don’t be a whiner. Even if you’re feeling stressed, save your venting for a friend and present a positive front to your boss.

    5. Serve as a Vault

    Earn trust by keeping information about confidential or sensitive subjects to yourself. Beyond that, don’t gossip or backstab at the water cooler. By being a stand-up employee, you'll earn trust and respect.

    Graphic displaying the 10 ways to get promoted at work described in this article

    6. Make Your Boss Look Good

    Staying organized and moving quickly can make you, and your boss, look good. But don’t move too fast. Getting things done efficiently is important, but quality matters, too.

    Ensure your work represents your company well. If you take on additional responsibilities, confirm they align with what’s expected of you. Your work reflects on your boss, so make sure they’re proud of you and your product.

    7. Ask for Advice

    It may seem counterintuitive, but asking your boss for advice can yield dividends. According to research by Harvard Business School Professor Alison Wood-Brooks, “Individuals perceive those who seek advice as more competent than those who do not.”

    Timed right, asking your boss for guidance can work to your advantage.

    8. Speak Up

    As Aristotle said, “There’s only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Since you’re reading this article, you clearly want to stand out, so speak up.

    Confidently sharing your views and expertise in conversations or meetings allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. You can also make an impression on your colleagues and superiors.

    9. Project Confidence

    Being a strong communicator is more than what you say. How you say it—both in your body language and tone of voice—may matter more than the words themselves.

    Albert Mehrabian, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in nonverbal communication, proved through his research that what you say is negligible compared to how you say it. Body language and inflection matter more.

    “Nonverbal elements are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude, especially when they’re incongruent: If words and body language disagree, one tends to believe the body language,” Mehrabian told the site Right Attitudes.

    That said, you can look like a leader through confident body language, such as your posture, stance, handshake, eye contact, and smile.

    Related: 4 Tips for Developing Your Personal Leadership Style

    10. Advance Your Education

    What else can you do to propel your career growth? If you want to sharpen your skills but don’t have the time or resources to go back to school full- or even part-time, consider taking an online course.

    According to HBS Professor Das Narayandas, there’s a plethora of options that can benefit you and your employer.

    As Narayandas said to the Harvard Business Review, “The good news is that the growing assortment of online courses, social and interactive platforms, and learning tools from both traditional institutions and upstarts…offers a solution. [They’re] flexible and immediately accessible, and it enables employees to pick up skills in the context in which they must be used. In effect, it’s a 21st-century form of on-the-job training.”

    There are many affordable online business courses that can work around your schedule. Your employer might even cover the cost.

    One to consider is Leadership Principles. It features interactive exercises to help you if you’re an early- or mid-career professional preparing for a leadership role.

    A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

    How Quickly Should You Expect to Get Promoted?

    Above all else, it’s crucial to identify what’s driving you to get a job promotion. Beyond wanting to advance in your career, think of the bigger picture and identify how your promotion will benefit your organization. Your motivation doesn’t just boost your professional trajectory; it also provides value to your company.

    Don’t expect immediate results. Instead, focus on your personal development and seek ways to become a more well-rounded professional. A promotion may come when you least expect it.

    If online learning interests you, explore our portfolio of online courses and download our free guide on how to advance your career with essential business skills.

    This post was updated and republished on April 27, 2023. It was originally published on May 28, 2019.

    About the Author

    Michele Reynolds handles brand marketing and PR for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to HBS Online, she led communications for TripAdvisor and Gazelle and has been widely quoted in national media outlets, including CBS News, Reuters, and The New York Times. Michele earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. Outside work, she spends time with her teenage daughter, plays tennis, and visits her enormous extended family.
     
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    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

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    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

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    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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