- One thing I have learnt over the years is that when someone has decided they want a promotion, it’s quite difficult to get them to shift from this line of thinking. Usually, people feel that they have worked very hard and so they are ready for a new challenge, and they want to be a GM – therefore a promotion.Most often than not, the promotion entails people wanting to be a people leader. This generally fills me with dread because I see many people with exceptional technical skills – but who should not be people leaders (because they don’t have the right temperament, they don’t realise what it takes to be a good people leader, they feel this is the only way to progress in an organisation etc).So, because I am fairly direct and my default position is usually radical kindness, the questions I pose to such individuals include:
✳ Tell me, what have you done to uplift your community and peers outside of your immediate team that makes you a good potential people leader?
✴ Outside of your team, how many people have you coached or mentored to elevate their performance?
🔅 What have you done to make this a better place to work – because you have contributed to the culture outside of your immediate team?
And for those who are ready to step up, the answers are easy because there is demonstrable evidence of them already doing this. But for many others the questions are tricky to answer, especially when they have my large cow eyes boring straight into their souls. However, these questions help provide a path forward to address a gap.
One of my favourite authors, Julie Winkle Giulioni says in her book ‘Promotions Are So Yesterday’ that aiming for your next role (promotion) should be a considered exercise – planned meticulously and then executed.
Assess where your skills and attribute gaps are – and then create a plan to address these. Always be on the lookout for opportunities where you can address the gaps – and consider those your path to a promotion. And stop chasing the promotion. Chase instead all of those opportunities all around you that will lead you to a promotion.
Thank you for reading my post, friends!
#leadershipcoaching #coaching #skillsdevelopment #leadership #teamnbn
