Consider who is actually leaving the bread crumbs

Question

Consider taking a step back to consider if you may be the one leaving the bread crumbs.  In my own career, I kept taking on more tasks and projects to show my boss that I can 'do it all and do it well' ...  only to realize that l am the one who has taken our light discussions about a promotion as a real possibility.   This realization has taken too long for me to grasp.  Now that my reality is synced with my situation, I am no longer frustrated with my boss/my organization over my non-promotion status.  My focus is turned towards learning new skills for when I do decided to leave for more opportunity.

Mandy Trouten · Answer

I'm glad that you are developing your skills toward leaving. There should never be 'light discussions' about promotions. You're either being considered for a promotion and will actually get it, or you're not/won't. For a company to dangle the possibility 'if you show that you're committed,' or some such, is just old-fashioned manipulation/psychological abuse.

Polina Gontova · Answer

Denise, while it is great that you are learning new skills but are those skills going to get you a higher level position somewhere else? I would recommend that you have a 1:1 conversation with your manager and ask for growth opportunities, like bigger scope, greater impact, more leadership, etc. You may also find or even create those opportunities yourself and share with your manager that this is what you want to do. This was you will develop the skills for the next level and that hopefully will be recognized in your current job or get you to that next level in your new job.

Terri Clark · Answer

That's a great perspective.  We train people on how to respond to us.  If we keep taking on more assignments, or assign work to ourselves, we are training our boss to rely on us for the extra effort all the time.

Mimi Bishop · Answer

Denise, good for you for making this a positive situation. It sounds that you are being really strategic about the skills that you are acquiring so that you can apply them for the best next opportunity.

I was also curious, do you know for sure that a promotion is not a possibility at your current role? And if it is not, do you have a timeline in place so that you can start taking the next steps to get that bigger opportunity?

Best of luck here -- I can see that you are someone who is a positive and forward thinker!

Consider who is actually leaving the bread crumbs

You're invited.

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