Ways Not to Get Promoted

By Jane Han - Staff Writer
January 21, 2008 15:57

With the year-end and New Year's annual job promotion just about over, some wonder why they didn't get that bump up the ladder. Experts say while it is tricky to sum up the how-tos in getting a boost, it's easy to define ways to stay stuck.

Having a poor relationship with your boss is a good way to remain put, says Cynthia Shapiro, a career coach and author of "50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know - and What to Do About Them."

Even if you have the most perfect relationship with colleagues, having a sour relationship with your boss can directly impact your performance review, she explains, adding that direct superiors usually have the most say in the first cutoff of promotion evaluation.

"This is especially more so in Korea," said Park Boo-jin, a senior consultant at Hay Group, a global human resources management consulting firm.

He emphasized the relationship with vendors, clients and other external work-related people is also crucial because "word gets around."

Another common trait among stragglers is "doing only what they're told to do," says Shapiro, stressing that it's not about the work you do, but how you get it done.

Once workers begin to, voluntarily, expand their workload without the direction of superiors, they are indirectly proving that they're ready for a promotion.

"And once work is done, make sure management know about it," Park said, regretting that not many people, especially here, know how to speak up for themselves because of the underlying "be modest" culture.

"Professionally informing others of your outstanding performance is not being conceited, but it's a skill," he said, adding that all of this should be done with an "aloof attitude over promotion."

Shapiro detailed in her book, as well, that appearing too obsessed with a promotion can actually shove you in the opposite direction.

It can make you come off as a self-centered person putting personal interests before the well-being of the entire organization, she said.

"Another changing trend in the workplace is that excellent employees stand out as specialists in their own field," said Park. "If you have limited knowledge about your field, you can never become 'the boss' directing others."