Ever sat there in disbelief wondering how the hell someone else got promoted? They’re not even that great at their job, they just talk a good game. You don’t want to be like them. But you’re irritated as hell that they got the job while you’re still beavering away being overlooked.
If so, you’re not alone. At all. I’ve been there and I have heard this from clients time and again. Smart, capable leaders who are fantastic at their current role but somehow can't seem to make that next step up. And it's frustrating because they're doing everything they think they should be doing.
The problem? Being brilliant at your current job isn’t what gets you promoted. Not now. It might have worked in the early career stage where being better than the rest was a differentiator. But now the rules are different and being great at your job is unlikely to get you a tap on the shoulder.
What actually gets you promoted when you’re further on in your career are the skills nobody tells you about. The ones that aren't in any job description or development plan. The hidden skills that execs don’t articulate they’re looking for when they're deciding who to back for that next big opportunity.
In this newsletter, I'm going to share three crucial but not often discussed skills that can make the difference between staying where you are and moving up:
The art of strategic self-promotion (without looking like you're showing off)
Executive presence (aka being more leadershipy)
The skill of helping others envision you at the next level
Self Promotion Without the Ick
Let's start with the skill most people shudder at the idea of - self-promotion. So if you're cringing, you're in good company. Most of the leaders I work with struggle to 'brag' about their achievements to me, never mind risk being seen as a show off by talking about them elsewhere.
The problem is, if you don't tell people about your wins, they won't know about them. And if they don't know about them, they can't use that information when they're thinking about who to promote.
The good news? You can do this without turning into an insufferable know it all. Here's what works:
Share your team's successes, not just your own. And share the impact of those successes. "The team has just delivered X which means Y for the business" is a lot easier to say than "I've just done X". Plus you’re bigging up your team and role modelling a way of sharing good news
Talk about what you're learning and the problems you're solving, not just what you've achieved. "We tried X approach which taught us Y" shows you're thoughtful and strategic
Make your boss look good. Keep them informed of wins and progress before they have to ask. Give them good news to share. When they look good to their boss, they're more likely to champion you. Plus their boss is more likely to hear your name more often
Ask for advice from senior people about how they went about getting promoted. People feel invested in your success when they've contributed to it, plus it tells people you actually want to be promoted and positions you as someone who’s taking ownership of taking action
What doesn't work:
Waiting to be noticed
Hoping your boss is psychic
Downplaying achievements because you're uncomfortable
Only talking about what you do, not the impact it has
Executive Presence (aka Being More Leadershipy)
We coined the term leadershipy when I was running a Career Clarity Challenge. Being told you need to work on your executive presence is one of those irritatingly vague pieces of feedback that basically translates to "be more like a leader" without telling you what that actually means. Which left one of our challenge participants wondering what the hell she had to do to seem more leadershipy.
According to research by the CTI, executive presence is a blend of communication, gravitas and appearance. Which isn’t to say you need to wear a power suit and use big words to be taken seriously.
Executive presence is a big topic in its own right, but when it comes to getting promoted there are a few key things that can help signal you’re up to dealing with bigger challenges:
Read the room better than Netflix. Notice the energy, spot who's on board and how decisions get made. Then adjust your approach. Executive presence is often thought of as commanding the room, but it has to be based on reading the room first
Stay steady. Be the person who brings calm to chaos, not someone who adds to the drama. In a meeting you might be the person to refocus people on the purpose and outcomes rather than be drawn into disagreement. Keep away from gossip, and known for maintaining confidentiality
Stop asking for permission to speak. If you're in the meeting, you're meant to be there. Share your thoughts with confidence - even if you're not 100% certain. Cut the apologies and the "I might be wrong but..." or "This might be a stupid question..."
Make decisions stick. Be willing to make a call and own it. Even if it's not perfect. That doesn’t mean you can’t involve others or seek input before you make a decision. And it doesn’t stop you changing course if needed. But dithering or constantly changing your mind makes people nervous and keeps them in an unsettling state of uncertainty
What doesn't work:
Trying to copy someone else's style
Pretending you know everything
Avoiding difficult conversations
Speaking up just to be heard rather than to add value
Being more leadershipy isn't about becoming someone else or acting a part. It's about being the version of you that’s needed at the level you’re aspiring to.
Getting Others to See You're Ready for That Next Level
If you've ever been told you're "not ready yet" for promotion, you'll know how frustrating that feedback is. How is doing more of your current job going to change that perception? The simple answer is it’s not. It feels like catch 22 - you need experience at a higher level to be seen as ready, but you can't get that experience without being promoted.
The real problem is if people can only see you operating in your current role, even if you’re great at it, they can struggle to imagine you being brilliant in a bigger one. So you need to be the one to help them make that mental leap.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
Solve problems at the level above you. If you lead a team, think about the problems your boss's boss is wrestling with. Share insights that show you understand those wider business challenges
Talk about the future, not just the now. Instead of just reporting on what's happened, share your thoughts on emerging trends or opportunities. Ask questions and share thoughts on how those might be handled. Show you're thinking ahead
Get visible. Build relationships beyond your immediate circle. Get to know stakeholders in other parts of the business. Get involved in cross functional projects. The more people who see your potential, the more champions you create
Show you can let go. Delegate more to your team, even if you could do it better yourself. Senior roles are about enabling others, not being the expert who does everything. Plus delegating is what gives you the headspace and capacity to start doing the other stuff on this list
Seek opportunities to strengthen your relationships at senior levels. Your boss’s boss especially. Make the effort to chat and treat them more like a peer. It’s not 1920. You don’t have to doff your cap to his lordship. Start behaving like you already belong
What doesn't work:
Waiting patiently, hoping more time in your current role will change perceptions
Only mixing with your own team
Holding onto tasks because you want them done 'right'
Getting stuck in the day to day firefighting
Staying in your comfort zone
None of this is about abandoning your current role - you still need to deliver there. But it is about consciously creating opportunities for others to see you differently. Because if they can't envision you at that next level, they won't put you there.
Ready to Change How Others See You?
If you're fed up of being overlooked or hearing you're 'not ready yet', let's do something about it.
Book a Power Hour with me and we'll:
Get clear on which of these hidden skills you most need to develop
Create a practical game plan that fits with your style (no trying to turn you into someone else)
Identify the quick wins that will start shifting perceptions of you
Map out your next steps
Want ongoing support? Join the Catalyst Career Club for £6.99 per month. You'll get regular resources, training and guidance to help you develop these skills (and more) plus a community of like-minded leaders.