For the Love of God, PROMOTE ME!

In My Humble Opinion
1

As mentioned here, I’ve been working towards a promotion to management. It’s been a trying experience. I’ve been jumping through hoops for some time and have suffered setbacks. It’s taken me a long time to get to a point in my life where I feel I’m ready for this type of responsibility and in the process I’ve overcome some significant personal obstacles. I want this so bad I can taste it. But I can’t understand why it’s not happening at this point. I’ve been wanting (asking) to go to the mgt interview every month for the last six at least, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to be sent this month. In the process, I’ve continued to focus on my development and have accomplished much.

My last review was submitted recently and I got the maximum raise possible. This is good, though I haven’t seen the review in writing. It should be damn near perfection for that.

Today, I’m scheduled to meet my boss’s boss for lunch. He’s been working with me on preparing for a move up to management. He’s given me a lot of attention (which is much more than I can for any other district mgr I’ve ever had) and seems to recognize my value to the company as well as my desire to do whatever it takes to move up. He suggested we have lunch after my last shining moment and I called in my chips earlier this week. I want to know where I stand and when/if this is ever going to happen. I’m 34, I’ve invested 3 years and I need to know I have a progressive future with this company. This delay has been extremely disappointing and somewhat demotivating. I’m drawing on reserves of tenacity I didn’t know I had.

Anyway, I want to make a good impression, but I also would like to move this along. I’m not sure how best to make my case. I can tell him everything I’ve accomplished, but he knows this already. How do I come across as confident and ambitious without seeming pushy and demanding? In reality I’m feeling unchallenged and overqualified in my current position, at this point, but I’m not sure how to get this across without it sounding negative.

Much of my frustration stems from how my boss runs things. While I like her and cut her some slack because she’s new (just about a year) into her position, I am frustrated by issues not addressed that should and could be corrected. Every issue I’ve brought up (and others have to), I’ve offered solutions. I analyze the problem and the solution, then present it. Sometimes, she agrees with the solution, but implementation is ineffectively managed. Sometimes, she doesn’t like it, but sticks to status quo instead of proactively seeking another solution. So the problem remains. And the only difference is that she’s aware of the problem. The same results remain.

Anyway, don’t want to badmouth my boss, but this is a big part of why the wait for my own store is getting to me. I can’t do what they want me to do to develop myself when I any attempt at improving our store is met with little to no support. Plus, you gotta hate seeing the same issue crop up again and again when you’ve brought it up to boss. I hate it when other employees say, “This is stupid! Why is this happening?” And all you can do is sigh and basically say is, “I know. I feel your pain.”

Any advice?

2

Anytime I’ve achieved a step up in my career, it’s been because I presented myself as if I knew that I deserved the job. I’m not sure in the work world that this comes across as arrogant if you really do deserve the work, and it sounds like you do. In my last review, at a new job where I was feeling unchallenged, I decided to bite the bullet and just lay everything on the table. The conversation went along the lines of “I really enjoy my work here, and I’m proud to work for this company. I see myself in a long term career. Nonetheless, I currently feel I’m not being utilized to my full potential.” I then proceeded to specify what I thought I could do, and what I would accomplish if given the chance. And I got the increased responsibilty I wanted. Perhaps your boss just needs a gentle “push”

3

Gold. This is EXACTLY how I feel. And this is exactly what I need to get across. Very well put. And it doesn’t sound arrogant or negative at all when you put it like that. Thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. :slight_smile:

Wish me luck. Or whatever works.

4

Incidently, I’m taking with me my last review, which was great and I can specify in detail how I’ve developed according to the “Improvement Opportunities” on the review.

I’ve also got the job profiles for both my current position and the one I’m going for. I can use that to demonstrate how I meet and exceed my current responsibilities as well as those I am capable of accomplishing with the promotion. I’ve also got a list of steps to promotion and I’ve completed everything on the list up to what he needs to do.

I’ve got my personal development plan in place and can demonstrate my progress with it. Unfortunately, I would have achieved greater success with the direct support and follow-through of my boss, but I can’t think of how to present that without shifting responsibility. I think he’ll catch on to it on his own, however.

I think I’m set. Now, if I can just maintain my composure and leave my emotions (save the passion for my work) at home, I should be fine.

5

I think you’re on track! Good luck, you sound prepared. Don’t be nervous. Spend that time telling yourself over and over that you DESERVE this, and to hell with what anyone else thinks :slight_smile:

6

No offense, but statements like “I cut her some slack” make it sound like you already think you’re the boss and she’s the employee, not the other way around. You also say that you don’t want to be pushy or badmouth her, but then you’re doing an end run around her to talk to her boss. Are you sure you don’t present yourself as arrogant and mercenary? I’m not just talking about your demeanor or choice of words but your actions. If so, I could see someone reviewing your work history and concluding that although you are very good in the position you’re currently in, you’re not quite ready for promotion because of what might be perceived as a character flaw. Often, people who excel at the technical aspects of the job are also deemed more valuable in their current position than being promoted to management, especially if they might be perceived as a pain personality-wise.

Of course, I don’t know anything about you or your organization. It sounds like you work in retail, where the organizational culture is often akin to a soap opera and sniping and backbiting seems to be the norm. I"m only going on what was written here, so, again, no offense.

7

Hope it went well.

8

What I meant was, I understand that she’s still learning the job (just as I will be) and getting her management chops down. So, what I meant to say was, I don’t automatically think she’s a bad manager because I don’t agree with the way things are handled. When another employee complains about her style, I try to smooth feathers by suggesting they cut her some slack and help her become aware of a problem, thereby empowering her to change it or otherwise deal with it within her capabilities. I know the job’s not as easy as us armchair managers seem to think it is, sometimes. I don’t think I’m the boss, but I do realize I’m a leader. And I try to act accordingly.

Gosh, I hope not. My boss is doing what is in her power to assist me and supports my career goals. My becoming a manager doesn’t supplant her in any way, but she doesn’t have the power to promote me. Her boss does. All she can do is encourage and assist in my development, as well as pass on her experience with me and perception of my suitability for management to her boss. So, it’s perfectly acceptable and justifiable for me to be meeting directly with her boss to push for my promotion. He’s the one who’s going to determine when I’m ready.

The people part of the equation is the most difficult part to learn and be effective at. I’ve focused much of my development on building relationships and learning how to communicate effectively with co-workers and the employees I supervise. It’s a constant challenge, but I’ve learned that it’s like that at every level. And all you can do is continue to analyze your successes and failures and adapt accordingly. Yes, I can be a pain because I’m highly focused on our success as a team. I’m not afraid to call 'em like I see 'em and expect a high level of dedication from everyone, including myself. That’s what leadership means to me. Funny thing, the people who don’t have a problem with me are those that have that same dedication.

That being said, tact and diplomacy are words that I have learned to greatly appreciate. :wink:

So far, it’s not as soap operatic as I would have expected. The law firm I worked in years ago was much, much more rife with drama and political maneuvering. It’s pretty mellow for the most part and I get a lot of positive vibes from this company. Of course, I have my grievances, but not ones that I think don’t exist in every gigantic corporation.

Our lunch went well, I think. He let me know that he recognizes my value and my enthusiasm. He indicated that I’m on the right track. There are a couple of things (training issues) that I’ll need to accomplish before I am interviewed for the position, but he’s pleased with my progress nonetheless. I feel better in that I’m now assured that he believes I’m management material and once all my ducks are in a row, I’m as good as there.

It basically ended up being a progress report and lots of questions for me giving him a better idea of what kind of manager I’m going to be. I don’t feel like I’m getting the run-around so much. And I realized I’ve put so much effort into the team that I’ve neglected some of my own development. He made a good point that once I’ve become a manager, I won’t have the kind of time to do these things that I really could do now.

There’s no doubt this promotion is going to take some effort (in addition to what I’ve already accomplished) to achieve. It will make me a much better manager for it. I have to hand it to him, though. I respect his scrupulous approach (impatient though I may be). There are some managers already out there who perhaps skated in too easily, are ineffective as a rule, and probably shouldn’t be managers.

9

I’m sure CG only meant that she was trying to be lenient in forming an opinion about the new boss, not that she was actually acting the boss. At least, that’s how I read it.

10

Thanks for the clarifications, everyone. CG, it sounds like you’re doing everything you can. I’d still recommend evaluating your interpersonal skills–see if you’re coming on too strong or undiplomatic when you point out solutions to what you see as problems. Being “right” is a wonderful thing, but not every solution to a problem is necessarily the right one. I’ve seen more than few people in the workplace (and counseled others) who don’t realize that others perceive their behavior as rude or too aggressive; they see themselves as leaders and often can’t understand why only some people–usually friends–are willing to follow their lead. Unfortuately, women often face that double-standard of being perceived as unfeminine when they’re simply being assertive. If you’re convinced that none of this is at issue, and that your personality fits into the organizational culture, then it should just be a brief period of time. Best of luck to you!