The Unseen Ceiling, Move Beyond Hoping for Promotion: Focus on Building Strategic Value
Many professionals work hard and take on additional responsibilities, yet still struggle to get promoted. (“How To Get Promoted at Work: 9 Effective Strategies”) It can seem like there is an invisible wall in the way. This wall is not about how long you’ve worked or your skills, but about how others see your impact. (Koh) To overcome it, show that you don’t just finish tasks—you help guide the company.
You Are Not an Automaton!
As you advance in your career, leaders may view your daily work less clearly. They care less about details and more about your impact. Promotions don’t just go to good workers; they go to people who can shape the company. Many people start with passion and learn new skills, but they often focus too much on completing tasks. To move forward, you need to demonstrate how and why your work is meaningful.
The Secret Ingredients to Your Promotion
Getting past this invisible wall isn’t about luck or office politics; it’s about perseverance. (“Self‐initiated and self‐resigned career plateaus”) You need to build what I call Impact Assets—your unique strengths and ways to stand out in the workplace.
First, build Personal Brand Assets to demonstrate your strategic value and establish your presence in meaningful conversations. Then, build Attention Assets to make sure your work gets noticed, even when you’re not there. This can involve sharing ideas in meetings or informing leaders about your accomplishments. Next, develop Premium Value Skills to share your ideas in a way that marks you as a partner for leaders. Finally, look for Premium Value Opportunities—projects that show you are a strategic team member.
Move Forward with Intention
Many leadership programs are ineffective because they teach individual skills but fail to address the most significant issue: how others perceive you. (Forsyth) Even if you are highly skilled, you may not advance if leaders do not recognize your big-picture value. (“Your how-to guide on overcoming career stagnation”) Take charge of your career by intentionally building your Impact Assets. Success is not about being the best at tasks, but about being the most valuable team member.
Now is the time to go beyond just completing tasks and demonstrate yourself as a leader. You can move up, and the effort is worth it. Are you ready to break through and win the promotion you want?
Article by: Engr. Jomel J. Kawi
References
How To Get Promoted at Work: 9 Effective Strategies. Indeed.com,. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-get-promoted-at-work
Koh, Jeremy Meng-Yeow; Ang, Hui-Gek; Lee, Jeffrey; Pua, Yong-Hao. The hard truth about soft skills: Exploring the association between leadership competency and career advancement of allied health professionals. Journal of Allied Health vol. 51, 2022.
Self‐initiated and self‐resigned career plateaus. Human Resource Management Journal vol. 34, 2024.
Forsyth, D. R.. Group dynamics. Group dynamics. Wadsworth Publishing., 2009.
Your how-to guide on overcoming career stagnation. Career.io,. https://career.io/career-advice/overcoming-career-stagnation