Promotions often appear to be the catalyst in helping your reach your career goals; without them it feels as though you might be stuck in a routine job.
Being offered a promotion is a compliment and supports the notion that taking one is the surest way toward climbing the ladder of success. In spite of the positive aspects that promotions bring in giving you a chance to grow, accepting one may not be the quickest way to the top rather just opposite.
Employees often get promoted when senior leaders recognize their abilities to perform and their dedication to solving problems. That’s a great sign to be doing so well in your job that others acknowledge you, however that doesn’t necessarily indicate you would enjoy taking a role with different responsibilities.
Case in point, an engineer once described their experience with being promoted as having an unexpected ending to their career with one employer. His promotion basically started when a senior manager walked by his desk, noticed a project he was working on and began to ask questions. A good conversation developed and several weeks later he received an invitation to discuss a possible new role for him — a promotion.
At first he was taken aback by the opportunity and had never considered moving up so fast within the department, in his new role he would be reporting to a vice president. Given that he had only been with the company a couple of years, it felt like an honor to be recognized for his contributions.
After a good night’s rest he accepted the promotion and within a matter of weeks he was in his new role. The first few days were spent organizing his office and meeting colleagues as well as his team. It wasn’t until he had his first meeting with his boss that he experienced the first couple hints of doubt.
He attributed his doubts as being new to the position, however the more information he received the more his anxiety doubled. He discovered his role was more about leading and coming up strategies rather than working with the projects he loved.
To make a long story his short, he ended up struggling with his new role in managing a team versus actually doing the work that interested him. After a few months he turned in his resignation and resolved never to accept a promotion until he had all the information need to make a good decision.
While promotions are great ways to advance your career before accepting one make sure you know the facts and put aside the appeal of a higher title.
Examining the pros and cons of accepting a promotion will help you make a good decision and enjoy your career.
Pros:
• A higher title usually means more compensation and benefits.
• Exposure to senior leadership with the opportunity to develop good working relationships.
• A seat at the table where decisions are made and strategies are discussed.
• Opportunity to lead a larger team and produce results that significantly impact the company.
• Broader scale of influence and ability to make decisions faster.
Cons:
• Exchange a predicted work routine to one that calls for more of your time effecting work-life balance issues.
• Need to use more management skills in delegating the work versus doing the work.
• Promotion could take you on a different career path.
• May not be ready for different leadership/management skills required for the job as well as working through office politics.
The opportunity for a promotion is one of celebration knowing that you were selected by your boss and others who recognize your value. Being promoted can be great opportunity for growth however, before you accept, take some time to gain more information and clarity surrounding the new role.
Never forget you own your career and while employers recognize your value it doesn’t always mean you are ready to move forward. Ask questions up front and know what is expected of you before accepting.
What have you learned from accepting a promotion? Was it a good decision?
