If you’ve been in your role for a while and feel like you’re not moving up, you’re not alone. Many early to mid-career professionals feel stuck, unsure of what to do to take that next step. The good news? Getting promoted isn’t just about working harder but working smarter.
Here’s a practical strategy to help you move up in two years.
1. Understand What the Next Role Requires
A common mistake professionals make is assuming that doing their current job well is enough to get promoted. While strong performance is essential, promotions are about potential. Your company wants to see that you’re ready for the next level.
Start by reviewing job descriptions for roles above yours. What skills, responsibilities, and leadership qualities do they require? Talk to people who’ve been promoted and ask what made the difference for them.
Action step: Identify 2-3 key skills or responsibilities you must develop to qualify for the next level.
2. Make Your Work Visible
It’s not just about doing great work; it’s about ensuring the right people know about it. Leaders are likelier to promote someone they see as contributing to team success.
- Speak up in meetings when you have ideas or solutions.
- Share project wins with your manager in a way that connects your work to company goals.
- Volunteer for high-impact projects where leadership is involved.
Action step: Look for one opportunity this month to showcase your work in a way that reaches decision-makers.
3. Develop Leadership Skills Now
You don’t need a leadership title to act like a leader. Leadership is about problem-solving, decision-making, and guiding others, even if informally.
- Mentor a junior colleague.
- Take the initiative to fix minor but recurring problems in your team’s workflow.
- Offer to run a meeting or present findings from a project.
Action step: Find one small way to demonstrate leadership this quarter.
Getting promoted isn’t just about working harder but working smarter. What strategies will you apply to get ahead?
4. Strengthen Key Relationships
Who you know matters, but not in a transactional way. Building strong relationships with your manager, senior leaders, and peers creates more opportunities for visibility and growth.
- Schedule regular check-ins with your manager to discuss your progress.
- Build relationships with peers in other departments to understand different parts of the business.
- Seek a mentor or sponsor who can advocate for your promotion.
Action step: Identify one senior colleague you’d like to build a relationship with and find a reason to connect (e.g., asking for career advice or collaborating on a project).
5. Ask for Feedback and Act on It
Constructive feedback helps you grow. If you wait for annual reviews to know where you stand, you might miss opportunities for improvement.
- Ask your manager, “What’s one thing I can do better to prepare for a promotion?”
- Request feedback from peers to understand how you contribute to the team.
- Show that you can apply feedback quickly, demonstrating adaptability and growth.
Action step: Schedule a feedback conversation with your manager as soon as possible.
6. Position Yourself for the Promotion
By your second year, you should have transparent conversations about your next step. Instead of just waiting for an opening, be proactive:
- Express your career goals to your manager.
- Apply for internal opportunities, even if they seem like a stretch.
- If no promotion is available, look for lateral moves that build critical experience.
Action step: Tell your manager your goal for promotion and ask for their support in making it happen.
Getting promoted in two years requires being intentional about your career development. With a clear plan and steady progress, your next career move won’t just be a possibility but a reality.
