Five ways to overcome promotion anxiety

The hopeful bunch of performers know they should be allowed to climb up the company’s ladder, but are in a twilight zone.

Their records show aces but so do those of their contemporaries, and feelers have been sent from the heads that their designations may change, but no one is sure.

When everyone is jostling for the cabin room or a shining new designation plate, it is a tough spot to be in. Devina Sengupta shows how you can stamp out anxiety before the much-awaited promotion.

Send feelers

Those who are in the hopeful list should send feelers to the boss. “Start sending a week-ahead list, tasks the team can do so that the head realises you are interested and would want to play a leadership role,” says Rajesh AR, head of employment services division of Manipal Education. Keep an eye out for resignations and drop a hint with the HR as well as that you are interested for the role, says Rajesh.

Get the structure right

Promotion is not just decided by the immediate boss, but there are processes to be followed after an initial recommendation. You should acquaint yourself with these, and know that even if the boss recommends your name, the process could throw up a different result. Also be sure of your ratings in the past two to three years for you to be considered for a push up the hierarchy.

Drive a hard bargain

Getting a case file ready of how one has contributed to the company’s topline and bottomline helps an employee, says Advaith Duddu, head of social media firm Alive Now. “One has to prepare to ask ‘why’ and not ‘demand’ things, for both the head and employee to reach a win-win position,” he says.

Hint: training sessions

Those who the bosses think are ready for senior roles are put through training sessions to hone their managerial skills. If you are given such a schedule, you can take it as a sign that you are in the shortlist.

Bosses, take it easy

Promotion-related meetings are gruelling for the boss as well. Individual meetings with those who have been moved up the ladder along with those who came close but did not make the cut, help. Those who missed out will understand where they lost out and a pep talk, along with appreciation for the work done till now, may help them get over their initial disappointment.