How to get promoted when you're already doing the job above you

A client of mine, a marketing expert, wanted to get promoted to Director of Global Marketing for a new product line that had recently been launched at her company.

She was already dedicating 90% of her time to do the work of a Global Director for this product, but didn't have the title yet.

There were two barriers:

First was external. Her direct boss was responsible for her performance review, but wasn't involved in the new product line.

"He wouldn't understand the value and impact of my work. Honestly, I don't think he cares," she told me.

So in coaching, we uncovered that the best person for her to get buy-in from would be the VP of Sales, who'd been involved in the development of the new product line from the get-go.

Even though the VP didn't directly manage my client YET, their perception and decision impacted the future of the product and, therefore, my client's career trajectory.

The second barrier was internal.

Even after we identified the key stakeholder, she hesitated to engage them in a strategic conversation, because she'd never advocated for herself directly.

She felt awkward about it.

In coaching, we came up with a three-point communication plan.

1. Let it be awkward. I told her, "If it feels awkward, know that you're doing it right. Be willing to have the conversation haltingly, awkwardly, courageously. Because having the conversation is how you get to what you want."

2. Devise a high-level plan that speaks directly to what the VP of Sales most cares about. She organized her ideas into a simple, coherent plan that would dovetail the sales team's goal of reaching international markets in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

3. Articulate the value of that the plan, often and early. She got in front of the VP and other stakeholders as often as she could to share the plan and the future impact of that plan. She did this consistently for months ahead of the performance review with her own manager.

As a result, my client took control of:

• Getting recognized as the best and only viable candidate for the Global Director role

• Cultivating a relationship with the key executive who went to bat for her behind closed doors, and

• Securing her promotion ahead of the performance review with her own boss

When she sat down with her direct boss for the annual review, he surprised her by putting her in the highest pay band possible to ensure that my client got the highest bonus and raise she can get.

Articulating her value had paid off.

Here’s what she reported back:

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I’m now the Global Director and have received a $45K increase in my salary plus an increase in my incentive compensation.

My boss was the one who advocated on my behalf to the leadership team and HR to make it happen.

He said to me that my promotion was a no brainer and that he would try to get as much money for me as he could.

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Like many women leaders, you too may be encountering both internal and external barriers to articulating your value so you can get promoted and better paid.

If that’s you, please remember this:

You got this far not to stall and to stay small, but to:

• Exceed other people’s misguided opinions, and to

• Exceed beyond your own limiting story of what you can and cannot do.

The time to get started is now.

No more waiting for others to go to bat for you. They won’t do it unless you go first.

Initiating the conversation about where you want to go in your career is how you demonstrate your leadership. Your readiness for the promotion.

If that’s what you want, I invite you to book your free 1:1, 60 min sales call with me today. Click here to access my Calendly.

You will leave with a custom step-by-step plan that works for your specific needs, so you know how you too can get promoted and better paid.