Due for a promotion? Here’s how to broach it with your boss

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Asking for what you want can be a daunting prospect. There’s always the fear you’ll be told no or, if you’re anything like me, your anxiety will run rampant. It will convince you that you’ll be laughed at for even asking. But as my psychologist once told me, don’t let an anxious mind dictate your decisions. 

With this empowering sentiment in mind, asking for what you want is a step towards creating the life we desire. The same attitude can be applied to your professional development. If you’ve been pining for a promotion at work but are being overlooked, can you honestly say that your boss is aware of your interest? Have you spoken to them about it or are you relying on them somehow knowing your wishes without a direct conversation? 

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It’s important to remember that asking for something doesn’t mean it will be less warranted if you end up receiving it. Let’s be honest – your boss isn’t going to give you a promotion if it’s not deserved, but in the same line of thinking, they may overlook you if they don’t know you’re interested. 

I’m not suggesting a casual email or conversation is the way to go about asking. After all, it’s your livelihood so asking for a promotion should be done in a thought-out, serious manner. You want your boss to see your commitment through the way you approach them. For practical advice on how to ask for a promotion, I spoke with organisational psychologist Michelle Pizer about the steps you should take before asking. 

Reflect on what you want before you’re ready

Michelle explains to me that it’s important to first reflect on where you want to go within your career. Considering the ways you want to grow will help align your actions with your goals. Communicating this to your boss is key, she tells me. “You should talk about where you’re headed and where you want to go before you’re even ready. That way it gets it on your boss’s radar that you’re ambitious and you want your career to go somewhere.”

Once you’ve had this conversation, you can also ask about the steps you need to take to get there. Being knowledgeable about the experience that is required for a promotion ensures you are being proactive in your actions and are on the right path. Michelle tells me being pre-emptive is a great way to focus your intentions. 

“It helps you to know why you’re doing what you’re doing, even if you’re not loving it in the moment. It reminds you why it is important to have that kind of experience under your belt. And the other thing is it can help your boss open doors for you and can also help pave the way for a conversation further down the track,” Michelle tells me. 

Get a mentor

If you’re looking to get a promotion, a good place to start is to speak to people in similar positions. Michelle tells me you can conduct what’s called ‘informational interviewing’, in which you discuss their position and the process it took to get there.

“You should ask them what they do day-to-day so you can make sure it is really something you would enjoy doing. And then also what their advice [is] on how you can get there,” Michelle says. Having guidance from someone is a great way to ensure you’re making the right decisions in your career. It also highlights anything that’s stopping you from getting your promotion. 

Organise a meeting with your boss

The way you approach your boss should reflect your commitment to the position you’re wanting. Michelle tells me the way you ask your boss sets the tone for the discussion. If you’re casual and light-hearted your boss may not take you seriously, so set aside time to talk with them face-to-face. “[Asking for a promotion] is not something you would do on the email for example. You want to give the sense that it’s an important discussion. This is your career so you should make time to talk to them one to one privately,” she explains. 

Michelle tells me it’s important to prepare for the meeting by having a list that documents all your successes. It’s normal to feel anxiety in any meeting with your boss so having a list on hand helps to curb that and keep you on track. “I would have a ‘brag file’ that details everything you’ve done well, what you’ve contributed and why you believe you’re ready for a promotion.”

Timing is another important element when asking for a promotion. Michelle tells me to be aware of events that are occurring within your job and plan accordingly. “If your boss has just laid off a bunch of people, or you’ve just made a mistake, I wouldn’t be asking for a promotion at that time. You have to use your common sense and be sensitive to what’s going on.”

Don’t be disheartened if you’re told no

Often promotions are based on experience and job maturity. Michelle tells me that if you feel like you have all the right skills but don’t receive a promotion, don’t take it personally.

“Promotions are not based purely on job skills. It’s sometimes a personal maturity that’s missing and that’s harder to learn. And sometimes it does take longer and it can be very frustrating when you know you’re good at the job but they just wouldn’t trust you with the bigger decisions,” she tells me. 

If you’ve had a conversation with your boss about wanting to grow professionally, trust that time and patience will bring you there. If you’ve told your boss about your career goals, you’ve made the first step in achieving them, as their awareness will often help put you on the right path. “No doesn’t always mean no, it often means not now,” Michelle tells me. 

The hardest step for many of us is being confident enough to ask our boss in the first place, but planning will always be our best friend. If you’ve thought out the how, when and why you’re asking, most bosses will appreciate your diligence. Even if you don’t end up getting the promotion you want, expressing your interest is the best way to get your foot in the door. 

For more on asking for what you want, head here.