Got promoted? Here are a few things to keep in mind

Promotions inherently entail change, new responsibilities and different career challenges. Hence, it is important to ask a few specific questions before you take up the new role, says Abhijit Nimgaonkar

Got promoted? Congratulations! In some firms, this might mean just a confirmation that you are already performing at the next level. In other situations, promotions inherently entail change, new responsibilities and different career challenges. Regardless, whether you have been gearing up for it for months or the news took you by surprise, the promotion represents an important milestone.

Think back to when you started your current role, of all the projects you had to excel at to become a trusted team member and all the one-on-ones it took to build trust with your peers and managers alike. It was persistence, patience and the right approach to learning which led you where you are today. You were promoted because you not only demonstrated excellence in your previous role, but also readiness for the next level.

 

Now it is time to focus on the future. You need to make sure you get ready for the next step, the next role. Take time to consider the type of promotion you are being offered and make sure that it is aligned with the career trajectory and goals that you have set for yourself. And before you accept, make sure this promotion is something you really want. One can get so wrapped up in the idea of advancement that one may forget about the responsibilities that come along with a promotion -more work, team management and possibly a change in career trajectory. 

A promotion might bring you a significant yet short-term growth opportunity but may not take you as far as you had expected. A good example of someone who does not want to get promoted is the ‘lifetime sales representative’, a high performing salesperson who enjoys his or her job thoroughly - meeting and helping customers, traveling, the financial benefits - but does not want to be promoted to district manager, where 80 percent of the role is coaching others to sell.

A systematic approach to ascertain the alignment to your goals is to write down what your goals and priorities are today. When you imagine yourself in five years, what would the future for you be like at work? Does this promotion fit into your goals and priorities? Does it help you achieve your goals and priorities? Talk it out. Get advice from trusted mentors and peers. Ask them about their experiences and what helped them evaluate their decision to take or deny a promotion. Talk to people who have your future job title - what they like about it and what are the challenges. Never underestimate experience and overestimate your skill. Keep in mind that a promotion is a milestone, not a finish line. It is just the first step of many. 

Here are a few specific questions you can ask yourself irrespective of the field of work:

• Will this promotion give me the chance to do what I really have a passion for? 
• Does the new position reflect my interests and abilities, for me to have a significant impact in that position? 
• Will this promotion open up new opportunities for future growth or advancement?
• What skills and knowledge do I need to develop in order to do the job effectively? Does that seem interesting and feasible?
• What kind of people will I be working with? Will I enjoy working with them?
• Will I get necessary resources to hone and learn the skills required for your new role? 
• Will I be given time to transition into the new role?
• How will the new role affect my family-life preferences?

Abhijit Nimgaonkar, office managing principal and India CEC’s head, ZS Associates

Remember when the new role calls for managing projects instead of contributing to them, you may no longer be spending considerable time doing what attracted you to the firm in the first place, which is not good or bad. It is all about what you want to invest your time in this phase of your career. If you are a good fit in the company culture or are certain that the new role will involve the type of work you are doing now, a promotion might be just what you need. You need to be sure that you do not turn a great offer without giving it much thought because it seems risky. At the same time, a new position should not take you away from your core strengths. 

It is true that your decision to not accept the promotion may reduce your chances of being considered again for the same role or even for another different position to an extent. However, if you are sure that the new role may not be the right path for you to take at least for now, it is wise to decline politely and with clarity. Communicate with your manager on a frequent basis about your thought process and career aspirations.

A people-centric firm will create an alternate career path where employees who are experts in a specific domain can move up with time, when they feel mentally prepared, without being pushed. In the example of the lifetime sales representative, the company is happy that someone has such a passion for helping the firm’s customers. That invariably leads to good results for the company.
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Abhijit Nimgaonkar is office managing principal and India CEC’s head at ZS Associates