🤦‍♀️ Why high performers DON’T get promoted
Jul 01, 2024
“Why are you so upset?” I asked…
Truth be told, I knew the answer, but I wanted Sally (a friend of mine) to tell me in perfect clarity why she was upset, so I didn’t miss a trick.
“Em, I’ve been in the same job for 7 years, I work my backside off, and there was a job I’ve been wanting for years…”
I know exactly what she is going to say…
“and I didn’t get it”.
Now, I know Sally is a high performer, and I know this because I see the hours she puts in, the work she delivers, how much her boss thinks the world of her…
So why are high performers not getting promoted?
Let’s jump in and find out!
Todays Topics
- That’s Interesting: High performers being held back
- Monday Mindset: Illuminate your potential
- Career Hack: Get seen by those that matter
- Thriving Leaders Club is here: Watch how to become a thriving leader
High Performers Being Held Back
If you’re a high performer, and my guess is that you are, (because you wouldn’t be reading this newsletter if you weren’t)…
Is that you’ve found it hard getting promotions at certain times in your career.
Annoyingly, you probably think there is something wrong with you.
You probably second guess your skills, and often doubt yourself.
Even more annoyingly, you probably work even harder to prove to yourself you are worth a promotion.
So, saying this next line might feel a bit jarring…
There is a perfectly “logical” reason why you aren’t getting promoted, you might even like the answer
but…
More importantly, there is a way to escape being held back.
But first, let’s dig into the logic as to why you’re being held back…
- The obvious, you’re too good!
I’ve been in HR for a long time.
Which means I’ve spent a LOT of time with leaders, senior managers and executives…
The people in charge of hiring you and others.
And the most common thing I hear when I ask the question: “Who in your team would be great for this new role”, is…
“Sally would be great, but don’t go near her, she’s too good, I need her right where she is”.
Fundamentally, the manager is fearing losing you, fearing that if you go that they will be lumped with extra work, hiring someone new, and lower performances from the rest of the team.
Ultimately, if you go, they will look and feel much worse off!
- The less obvious is, you’ve got limited exposure
Similar to a plant, if you’re kept in the shade your potential to grow tall will be limited.
The thing is, whether it’s self imposed, or your manager has been hiding you, you haven’t had adequate exposure to senior management.
In fact, your true value hasn’t been realised by senior management.
Think about it, if it’s your boss's boss who needs to hire you, then you need them to realise how much potential you have…
Specifically, they need to realise how much MORE value you would provide if promoted.
It needs to be so compelling, because ultimately, they will be losing you from one role where you are high performing.
It’s a bet they need to be confident in…
Let me show you how to pursue them.
Illuminate Your Potential
Keep this one pinned to your desk this week!
Get Seen By Those Who Matter
You’re great at what you do but…
…it’s not working for you.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “if only I wasn’t so valuable in my current role I would get promoted”.
If that thought has crossed your mind, I get it. It really does feel like that but…
…that is not the way to win at this game!
Instead, I need your greatness to shine and attract the attention of those that matter.
Find the right manager
Firstly, anyone who is willing to hold you back is not someone you should work for…PERIOD!
It’s time to value you, your skills, and back yourself!
But, whilst you’re feeling stuck you need a workaround, right?
What you need to do is find the “decision maker” (the person who your boss reports in to, or someone more senior than them) and you need to build a connection and relationship with them.
It doesn’t need to be major, but they do need to know who you are and what you’re capable of.
Don’t assume your manager has been talking you up to them.
Tipping the scales
Now, you might be getting a little nervous…
Because what you think you need to do is “sell yourself” into a new role with a senior person.
I mean, where do you even start?
You start the right here: share your career goal.
In the “That’s interesting” section above I talked about plants needing light (not shade) to grow tall. Well, before they even need light, they need to be planted in soil!
Or there will be no plant.
So by sharing your career goal with those above your manager, you are planting the seed in their mind that you are up to big things.
This is the starting point to tip the scales.
But how?
It can be as simple as bringing it up in conversation in the tea room (or zoom room) when they ask how your weekend was.
Tell them you’ve been studying X to help you learn more about Y and it’s been really interesting because of Z and that you're working towards [insert goal].
You could write them an email asking for 10 minutes of their time for some career mentoring as your career plan is to be in X role and you’d love their opinion on the steps to get there.
9 out of 10 times they’ll get interested and ask you more questions.
This is great! The more you share the more they’ll see your drive and ambition.
You need to be seen, and you need to ensure the right people (not just your manager) know about it.
If you’re a leader feeling held back (by your manager, or something else), stuck or too bogged down in your job to make significant progress in your career, then I want you to consider joining the PY Thriving Leaders Club.
It’s an exclusive membership for professional women to become influential leaders who radiate confidence and enjoy ease & balance in their careers.
I recorded a short video where I talk about the 3 main problems that I see stopping ambitious women achieving the leadership success they really want.
After you watch it, I'd love you to reply and let me know your top challenge right now.
Cheers & Claps: Our Success Stories
Wrapping up another fantastic week! A huge thank you for subscribing and diving into our newsletter. 
We trust it sparked some inspiration, motivation, or perhaps offered a delightful distraction.
Em & the PY Team
P.S. Whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways I can help you accelerate your career:
1. Book your FREE Career Growth Session
If you’re a professional woman who is tired of tolerating your job, then you might just be a few strategies and tactics away from getting the clarity and confidence to land a role that not only excites you, but aligns with your life. Talk to us today to see what's possible for you - Click Here
2. Join my FREE Career Clarity & Confidence Group
Inside, we’ll be sharing with you how to get the clarity and confidence to secure a career that not only excites you, but aligns with your life — Click Here
3. Join me for a FREE Online Career Workshop
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4. Apply for our Thriving Leaders Club
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