Get Promoted / Grow in Role

Whether you’re aiming for a formal promotion, preparing to step into a leadership role, or simply want to grow your influence and impact in your current job, career advancement requires more than just working hard. It takes intention. You need to understand how decisions are made, how your contributions are perceived, and how to grow your visibility and credibility over time.

This page will help you take a strategic approach to growth — one that aligns your ambitions with the realities of your organization, your values, and the unique challenges and opportunities of your current career stage.

Before setting your sights on the next title or position, it's important to define what growth really means to you. For some, it’s about recognition and responsibility; for others, it’s about greater alignment with purpose, deeper skill development, or simply enjoying more autonomy. For many, growth also includes fair and competitive compensation.

Wanting to earn more is not just about ambition — it’s about value. It may be time to initiate a compensation review to ensure your pay reflects both your contributions and current market benchmarks. Compensation growth can happen with or without a title change, especially if your responsibilities or impact have increased.

Clarifying what kind of growth you want ensures you’re pursuing the right goals — not just the visible ones.

What does growth actually mean to you?

• A bigger role or new responsibilities?

• More visibility and influence?

• Greater alignment with your strengths and values?

• A formal promotion — or growth without a title change?

• A compensation review?

Try this reflection:

“If I stayed in my current role for another year, what would make it feel like a strong investment in my long-term goals — financially, professionally, and personally?”

Write down your answers. Let them shape your growth strategy.

📥 Download the Compensation Review Prep Sheet

In most organizations, promotions are not only about what you’ve achieved — they’re about how others experience your leadership potential. You’re likely evaluated on three dimensions: 

1. Performance – Are you consistently delivering outstanding results?

2. Perception – Do key leaders see you as ready for more responsibility?

3. Politics – Do you understand and navigate the unwritten rules of influence?

It can feel uncomfortable to acknowledge the role of politics, but in many organizations, they are simply the structures of decision-making and power. By understanding them, you don’t have to compromise your integrity — you can learn to move with intention, clarity, and confidence.

Being great at your job is essential — but it’s rarely enough on its own.

 📥 Download the Navigate the Landscape Worksheet

Sharing your ideas and accomplishments isn’t bragging — it’s part of leading. If you want to grow, others need to see the value you bring. The key is to communicate with purpose, not ego.

Frame your contributions with clarity and humility

Use these simple formulas to share your work:

• "Here’s what I noticed, here’s what I tried, and here’s what happened."

• "Our team has been working on [project] to solve [problem], and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made."

• "I’d love your input on an idea I’ve been testing that’s showing some early results."

Where to talk about your work:

• 1:1s with your manager

• Team meetings and check-ins

• Written updates or dashboards

• End-of-project reviews

• Informal conversations with mentors or peers

💡Early career tip: Practice sharing your work as a story of learning and contribution. Invite feedback.

💡Mid-career tip: Use language that highlights team success and the business impact — not just your role.

💡Senior leader tip: Model this for others. Share wins with humility and strategic awareness.

Try this prompt in your next meeting:

“One quick highlight from this week — we’ve been working on [X], and it’s starting to show [result]. I’d love to hear any thoughts on how we could scale or improve it.”

No matter where you are in your journey, the steps toward advancement evolve with your level of experience and organizational complexity. Here’s how to think about growth at different stages: 

Even if a formal promotion isn’t immediately available, you can still grow. In fact, many of the most impactful career moves happen inside your current role. You can stretch your skills, increase your influence, and position yourself for the next opportunity by being proactive.

Here are a few ways to do that:

• Lead a cross-functional project or initiative

• Mentor a junior team member or colleague

• Initiate a process improvement that adds measurable value

• Volunteer to present on behalf of your team

• Build a skill that fills a gap in your group or function

💡 Remember: Growth is about building momentum — and momentum attracts opportunity.

Many professionals hesitate to engage with workplace politics — but that hesitation can slow your advancement. Politics, when approached ethically, are about influence, relationships, and trust. You don’t need to play games — but you do need to understand how the game is played.

Practical ways to navigate with integrity:

• Map key stakeholders. Who holds influence in your domain — formally and informally?

• Build relationships beyond your manager. Cultivate visibility across teams.

• Stay aligned with the language of leadership. Frame your work in terms of business impact.

• Actively seek feedback. Not just from peers, but from decision-makers.

Try this activity: Choose one stakeholder you don’t regularly interact with. Schedule a brief meeting to learn about their priorities and how your work connects to theirs.

If you're ready to initiate the conversation, prepare in a way that sets you up for success:

1. Gather your evidence. Focus on impact, outcomes, and measurable results.

2. Know the promotion process. Understand timing, criteria, and who’s involved.

3. Frame your pitch. Emphasize how promoting you benefits the team or organization.

4. Get feedback. Ask others for insight on how you're perceived and where you could stretch.

5. Create a path forward. Whether the answer is yes or not yet, have a next-step plan.

💡 Tip: Start operating at the next level before you’re officially there — it makes saying “yes” easier for your leaders.

Growing in your role — or preparing for a promotion — is both a mindset and a strategy. It’s not just about checking boxes or waiting your turn. It’s about intentionally aligning your performance, visibility, and relationships with the opportunities you seek.

While promotions may sometimes feel outside your control, growth is always within reach. Take initiative. Ask for feedback. Clarify what success looks like in your current role and your next one. Build a track record of delivering value — and make sure the right people see it.

Finally, remember: growth doesn’t always mean a new title. Sometimes it’s deeper influence, better alignment with your strengths, or greater joy in what you do each day. Keep growing — with clarity, purpose, and a network that supports your evolution.

Next Steps:

📥 Download the Map Your Next Career Move Worksheet

➡️ Schedule a 1:1 with a coach or find a mentor to get perspective