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I want that Promotion but....

Promotions are good...

They bring along more recognition for a job well done, they bring in (most cases, anyway) a higher salary, they allow you to bring more value to the company, they allow more opportunities to interact with employees (managers) higher up the corporate chain. You get to do more and together with your team, you can achieve greater heights in performance. For those who enjoy travelling, a higher position will typically mean additional travel required which will allow you to see greater parts of the company, in a different cities, thereby elevating your experience in working with peoples across culture...at the company's expense. Your life will be enriched, no doubt.




But when does it feel when a promotion is not really a promotion? When does it feel that a promotion with a greater role, greater responsibility with higher salary becomes a yellow flag, or in some instances, a red one? 

Sure, there are millions of cases where promotions will improve a person's life. However, there are also some who, instead of thriving, find themselves going back to black...where life spins out of control. Instead of life being better, it becomes worse and one is less happy than before (even with more money). 

It is not a bad idea to reflect before applying for the higher-up position...ask these questions before going ahead. If you are satisfied with your answers and agree (together with your better half, aka wifey) that you will be happy with the new role, then proceed. If not, then it is an opportunity to take a step back and examine what is most important.


Flag #1: I deserve more money

This is probably the #1 reason why we want that promotion to a senior-level position, or to join the ranks of management. All it takes is one (or perhaps 2-3) interview and we are on our way to higher pay...20% increment and in some companies, as much as 50% after passing the interview rounds. 

Why do we want to move on? Because we think that we are not paid enough for the work that we currently do. The truth may not be so evident. especially if the work involves late-night meetings or preparing slides on weekends. Thus, it is not a bad idea to talk to those who are already in the higher position to confirm if the statement is true. 

One rule of thumb (altho' this may be inconsistent across industries) is that the 20% pay increase would entail 2X more work or stress levels. If you are already doing twice the work and feel underpaid, then it is probably the right thing to do. But it could jolly well be true that the amount of extra meetings/reports/expectations/sales and the stress that come with it is not worth the money.


Flag #2: I need the recognition

To be recognized for the great work that you have done is a good feeling to have - some like to be praised and be introduced as "senior" while other preferred to just be doing their work in the background without much fanfare. If recogntion is important, the question to ask is "why"? Is it to feed the ego or to prove something to your peers?


Flag #3: I am the best Subject Matter Expert 

This is a problem in many larger, expanding companies with growing businesses and plenty of opportunities...often the MNCs. A person may be an excellent hardware or software engineer, a product specialist, or a great designer. So the assumption is that since "I am so good at what I am doing, my next role would be people-manager."


Flag #4: Stress is not problem

One of the most overlooked factors in getting the promotions is the addition of stress that comes with the job. One thing to note is that the stress does not equal the addtional money. In most cases, it is double or triple, and in some ocassions 5X or higher that what one is experiencing in the current job. 

One way is to sit down and evaluate your current stress levels, together with the other things that are going on in your life. If you are well in control of your health, your relationships (marital, parental, etc.) plus your spiritual life, and still have margins to give, then it is a "easy" thing to say "yes" the offer. If you are almost at the brink of exhaustion/collapse with all the issues outside of work, then this is reaosn to pause before moving on. 

Read about the 4-burner theory in my IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWNZwdwGKjd/ 



TO BE CONTINUED....

This post is heavily leveraged from the article by Lonnie Pacelli titled "6 Yellow Flags when Chasing That Promotion" first published at ProjectManagement.com (acess by membership only). 

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