A close colleague recently received a well-deserved promotion, and I am thrilled for her and her manager. I believe that this sort of thing – “promotion” in the very best sense of the word – has the power to change careers … and lives.
Why Promotions Matter
It’s always nice to get a raise (more money) or a promotion (a loftier title and/or higher-level job responsibilities), of course. But I find that when done thoughtfully and purposefully, it can be much more than a “nice to have” or a brief shot-in-the-arm for morale purposes. In my friend’s case, the promotion:
- Showed her that she and her contributions were valued by the organization
- Gave her increased standing and confidence to interact with clients, colleagues, and vendors on a more equal footing as professional peers
- Changed her own thinking about what future steps her career might hold in store —what possibilities could become realities for her
- Increased her already strong appreciation for her manager, knowing that he had gone to bat for her when he didn’t have to
- And, in part that she’s not aware of yet, the promotion sets her up for other jobs (inside and outside the company) for which holding her new title/level is an unstated (but very real) requirement.
In the manager’s case, the promotion demonstrated: Continue reading