You have nothing to lose in seeking a promotion, writes Paul Slezak.

Consider the following scenario. You've been working in your role for nearly a year, successfully managing a team in the city office. In one of your regular catch-ups, the state manager informs you confidentially your colleague, who manages a large suburban branch, resigned. She then tells you she hasn't decided whether she will look externally for a replacement, or promote from within.

You know you want that position - not instead of your current role but over and above it. You know you are ready to take on the additional responsibilities and while managing two teams in two branches may initially prove challenging, it is exactly where you see yourself moving next. So what do you do?

One of my clients, Molly, recently found herself in this exact situation. But rather than telling her state manager there and then that she wanted to be considered for the role, she took a more strategic approach.

That evening she sent an e-mail to her manager requesting a meeting to discuss the opportunity of transitioning into a dual role. Molly then spent time carefully preparing her case, highlighting her achievements within the business to date, the reasons why she felt she should be considered, her rationale for wanting the additional responsibility, a picture of her ideal career path within the business and, finally, a carefully thought-out transitioning strategy.

She knew her timing was right and she felt confident presenting her case to the state manager. Molly's strategy worked and she is moving into a role that will see her managing two offices, thereby fulfilling her career aspirations.

Over the years I have witnessed many instances where people have been too scared to ask for a promotion because they felt their manager would either think they weren't quite ready or perhaps not happy in their current role. Then, when overlooked, they became jaded and, in many cases, left the organisation.

If you have your eye on a more senior role, if you know you can do it and it's in line with your career path, then put your hand up for it.

The notion of promotion can differ depending on whom you ask. For some it means more responsibility. For others it equates to more seniority and a new title on a business card. However, neither guarantees a salary increase. And if they do, the raise may not always be what you had initially expected.

You may also need to seriously consider whether you are, in fact, looking for a promotion or if it's a new job entirely you are seeking. This may only exist beyond the company walls. After all, there are two ways to progress in your career - climbing within your current organisation or zigzagging from one company to the next, ticking the milestones associated with your own career goals as you go.

Performance reviews are a perfect forum to lay the foundation and consider your career path, as well as your personal and professional development strategy in terms of advancements within the company. It's usually a time when key milestones are set and potential future opportunities are identified.

On the flip side, just because you have discussed the idea of taking on more responsibility, or even formally presented your case and asked for a promotion, there is still the possibility of being declined. Or worse still, if you don't come forward and someone else gets the position you had hoped (or assumed) would naturally be yours, what's your plan B? Do you just accept it and continue on with business as usual? Do you ask for feedback and put a plan into action to increase your chances of being considered next time around? Or would being knocked back result in you seriously rethinking your position within the organisation?

If the truth be told, however, sometimes a role you think would be perfect may in fact be the opposite, so respect your manager's decision. More often than not they really do have your best interests in mind, along with those of the business. But don't let this deter you from putting your hand up, especially if you have done the necessary ground work. You have nothing to lose.

APPROACHES SURE TO FAIL

■ The Expector: Never send an email to your manager stating, "I expect that by June you will promote me to senior consultant".

■ The Ultimator: Saying "If you don't promote me to team leader, I will have to reconsider my place here" means that you'll be swiftly out in the marketplace interviewing for a new role!

■ The Whinger: If you don't get an answer straightaway, or if you are told the situation will be reassessed in six months, don't ask "how much longer?" in every fortnightly catch-up between now and then.

■ The Delusionist: If you've earned the title of prima donna and treat your colleagues like subordinates, asking for a promotion will almost certainly fall on deaf ears.

■ The Opportunist: Asking for every possible promotion (either within your team or any other part of the organisation) will reinforce the idea that you have no sense of career direction and, in turn, no real credibility
behind your requests.


*Each of these characters is based on real situations.


Paul Slezak is the founder of 2 dots (2dots.com.au), a boutique career consultancy, and is director of Recruitment Academy (recruitmentacademy.com.au).

Are you angling for a promotion? Tell us at mycareer.com.au/vote