How to Build a Case for Promotion

3 Ways to Advocate for Career Growth and That Promotion You Want!   I commonly get asked how I can advocate for myself or speak up about moving up within a company I work for. What do I need to say to my managers to tell them I am looking for something bigger?   Are you looking to take your career to the next level but unsure how to get noticed?   Here are 3 ways to be your own advocate and show leadership you're ready for more:   1. Schedule a Career Development Meeting: - Script: "Hi [Manager Name], I'd love to discuss my career development goals. Would you be available for a meeting in the next couple of weeks?" During the Meeting: - Discuss your accomplishments and how they've benefited the company. - Express your interest in specific growth opportunities or future projects. - Ask for feedback on areas for improvement and a development plan.   2. Take Initiative and Lead Projects: - Script (to a colleague): "I noticed we're facing a challenge with [X]. I have some ideas on how to tackle it. Would you be interested in brainstorming together?" Benefits: - Showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to take ownership. - Gain valuable experience outside your current role. - Get recognized for your proactive approach.   3. Shine During Meetings and Presentations: - Script: "[Summarize key point]. Additionally, I'd like to suggest [your idea] as it could potentially [positive outcome]." Tips: - Be confident and articulate your ideas clearly. - Back up your suggestions with data or previous successes. - Be an active listener and build on others' points.   Advocating for yourself doesn't have to be loud.   Be proactive, take initiatives, and demonstrate your value, and you'll be well on your way to achieving your career goals!   Let me know what you’d add to my list!   #careerdevelopment #promotion #leadership

How to get promoted 10x faster than your peers. 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: It was my first startup (Zenefits), and I was the last customer support rep hired on a team of 6. After 7 months my VP offered me an opportunity to lead support for a brand new product launch (Zenefits Payroll). I was given this opportunity over everyone else on the team. Including people who'd been there for multiple years. 𝗛𝗼𝘄'𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻? Here's my honest go-to strategy for making things like this happen in your career. My advice has nothing to do with how I feel, believe or think things should be or work at companies. It all comes from being in the trenches, making a lot of mistakes, seeing people make a lot of mistakes and genuinely wanting to help others by sharing my experience. So please apply these things and watch magical things happen for your career. 𝟭. 𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 I don't complain. Not to peers. Definitely not to my boss. No one. This will always be one of the easiest way to differentiate yourself. People are emotional. Start ups are hard. People complain a lot. 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 Instead of sharing frustrations with my boss every 1:1 and giving them problems to figure out. I align on how I can help them with their goals. Try this in your next 1:1 Hey Boss, a lot's happening right now. Would you mind sharing what your top priorities are this quarter? I want to do everything I can to help and make an impact. And then whatever they say, focus on getting results for yourself (and your team!) on those things. 𝟯. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 Obsess over finding things that are hard and do everything you can to make a positive impact. For example, we had certain types of cases that were always the most difficult. People hated it when they got them. I told the team if you don't want that type of case then to transfer it to me and I'll take it off your plate. Guess what I did from there? Built a process for handling those types of cases and shared the results with my boss. 𝟰. 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 People poo poo on this for some reason and I don't understand why. Yes, in a perfect world you should be able to do whatever you want and be celebrated for who you are but that's not the reality of companies or how things actually go down unfortunately. So act two roles above where you're at and make it so your boss and your boss's boss can easily envision you in a much bigger role. Remove all risk and concern by looking and acting the part well ahead of getting it. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: These 4 things seem simple. Some may even roll their eyes. But < 10% of people actually do this consistently. Especially when things are hard. My longest post ever, Mike G

Have you ever struggled with promoting yourself and your career without feeling like you're coming off as too self-promotional? You're not alone. As a mentor and coach, I get this question all the time, and it's a tricky balance. The good news is, self-promotion done right can open doors and propel your career forward. Here's my take on it: 1️⃣ Identify Your Unique Skills: What are your superpowers? Your strengths? Highlight these and build relationships with those who will value them the most. 2️⃣ Show Tangible Value: It’s not just about saying you’re good at something—demonstrate it! Use a career walking deck to showcase your experiences, results, and key wins. 📊 3️⃣ Build Relationships: Leverage your network, find mentors, and engage with sponsors. Your goal is to become the obvious choice for your next role by demonstrating relevant experiences and abilities. 4️⃣ Be Humble and Realistic: Acknowledge the challenges you might face in a new role. Show that you’re ready to tackle them with the right support and training. 🚀 5️⃣ Tell Stories: Instead of bragging, share stories about your successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Authenticity and clarity in communication are key. 🗣️ 6️⃣ Seek Feedback: Actively solicit feedback from those who will give you honest, constructive criticism. This helps you grow and improve continuously. 🔄 Remember: Self-promotion done right is about clarity and communication. It’s about showing your value in a humble and authentic way. Would love to hear your thoughts on effective self-promotion strategies! 💡 #CareerGrowth #SelfPromotion #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Mentorship #Leadership #PersonalBrand #SuccessTips #LinkedInCommunity

I had no idea how promotions actually happened until I was a sales manager for the first time at Snapchat participating in my first talent review. I assumed as a sales manager, if you wanted to promote someone on your team, you just did it. Easy peasy. 😎 Wrong... 🙄 Managers have to plead their case, or "put someone up" for promotion. And even when they do, it's faaaaaaarrrrrr from guaranteed. Here are two questions that get asked of sales manager when they put someone up for promotion: 1️⃣ Who else in this room has worked with this person?  It's super important for you to grow your network with your manager's peer set. You want as many people in that room to speak up on your behalf. You want +1s all around. You want everyone to feel your impact, and sing your praises. 2️⃣ What did this person do to make the whole team better?  We all know this person is good at their job, that's why they are up for promotion. But what was their impact beyond their actual role? How did they grow and develop others, and level-up the entire team? Now that you know what they are going to ask, just reverse engineer your game plan to get promoted. ⭐ Network up and down and across your org ⭐ Make everyone around you better Both take time, and we're one quarter away from EOY reviews. Don't cross your fingers and hope you're on the promo list. Take control of your own career. --------- 🍕 Hi, I'm Meredith. I help ad tech sellers build unstoppable personal brands through my 1:1 and group coaching programs based on my 18 years of experience working at companies like Amazon, Snapchat, and Google. Book a free 30 min career strategy session with me to get ready for EOY review cycle 💪 Link in comments ⤵

Being a top performer will not get you that promotion. Believe me, I've been there. Do you know those people grids? The top secret performance grids? Well, because I was in HR, I got to see where I was and I was ALWAYS on the top right which means top performer, high potential. So why was I turned down for 3 internal promotions? Here are the lessons I learned the hard way and what you can do to avoid making the same mistakes. 1. I wanted everyone to like me 2. I was desperate 3. I became the helper Know where you want to be, and how to get there, and let everyone in on your plans. Here's what to do: 1. Become visible ✨ Make people aware of your contributions. ✨ Shout about your career goals through a loud hailer and have a crystal clear path to get there. ✨ Contribute to every interaction and in every meeting. You're not a wallflower. 2. Grow your confidence ✨ Know the value that you bring to the team. ✨ Be intentional about your impact. ✨ Take time to recognize how far you have come. 3. Ask for help ✨ Surround yourself with mentors. ✨ Get feedback from those you trust. ✨ Learn how to say no (something I am still working on). If you want more tough love on your development and career, follow me here. #traininganddevelopment #learninganddevelopment #talentdevelopment #careeradvice #performance #promotions

The best promotions don't go to the most talented people. I’ve worked with thousands of professionals in my career. If there’s anything I’ve noticed after a decade in tech, it’s the fact that the promotions and high-visibility projects go to those with advocates. Here are the key reasons why advocates are essential for career growth (and some practical tips to gain and nurture them) 🔵 Advocates amplify your visibility. ↳ They talk about your achievements to others. This spreads your name and work beyond your immediate circle. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: If you’re a heads down person like me, it’s time to lift your head up to build relationships with colleagues and mentors who can vouch for your skills and contributions. 🔵 Advocates provide opportunities. ↳ They recommend you for projects and roles. This opens doors that you might not even know exist. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Show your value consistently so that advocates feel confident in recommending you. 🔵 Advocates build your credibility. ↳ They lend their reputation to yours. This enhances your professional standing and trustworthiness. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Maintain integrity and professionalism to ensure advocates are proud to support you. 🔵 Advocates ensure your efforts are recognized. ↳ They make sure your hard work is seen by decision-makers.This leads to promotions and career advancement. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Document your achievements and share them with your advocates regularly. Bonus: 🔵 Advocates help you build a network. ↳ They introduce you to influential people. This expands your professional connections and opportunities. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Your network is one of the most valuable things you’ll take with you in your career. Don’t let these opportunities go to waste! Seize the opportunity to build strong advocates and supercharge your career in the final months of 2025. If you’re not sure where to find your first advocate, try building a good relationship with your manager. Here’s my FREE LinkedIn Learning Course that can help you turn your managers into your #1 advocates: https://lnkd.in/gPXXNckd 💬 What are your obstacles when it comes to finding advocates at work?

Aiming for a promotion? Then let's talk about 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆. Picture me sitting with a team member in our 1-1. They look at me (on video) with hopeful eyes and say, “I upsold the biggest deal this year, I should be on track for a promotion, right?” Or “I know the early part of my year was slow but last month, I broke all our records: high revenue, all-time best webinar attendance, secured the best-ever testimonial, and engaged the toughest client. Promotion-ready, don't you think?" Here's the thing. Yes, those are substantial achievements. And they’re part of what's expected in your role. But a promotion isn't about occasional big wins. Promotions are about 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺. Consistent achievements. Consistent efforts. Consistent execution. Consistency breeds trust, credibility. Others know they can depend on you - to deliver, to close deals, to show-up. ALL. THE. TIME. It is a reflection of who you are. So as you aim for your next promotion, reflect on your consistency. Seek feedback from colleagues and clients too - You may be able to use their feedback to support your promotion ask! And if you remember one thing about this post, REMEMBER THIS - Your 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙔 speaks louder than sporadic big wins. #Consistency #Credibility #ProfessionalBrand #WomenInTech #CareerGrowth #PromotionTips 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘐 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴.