How can you get a promotion without stepping on toes?

Remember that promotions are not about tenure, but about growth and contribution. Look for ways to innovate, improve, and develop if you want to unlock promotion opportunities.

Two thoughts: 1) Assume a growth mindset - promotion isn't a zero sum game so eliminate the idea that you only grow when someone else doesn't. Positivity comes with its own momentum and a growth mindset amplifies. 2) Lean in. The catch-22 is that you don't earn a promotion until you demonstrate you can do the work, but you often feel you don't get to do the work until you're promoted. So find a way to do that work. Lean in and show you're ready.

Overdeliver, be part of the team, coach when needed, share, don’t complain, and show your value in a non offensive way. If you act like a bump on a log you’ll get paid like a bump on a log. If you’re competent, deliver, and have a positive attitude you’ll get paid.

It's good to show one's value but it's not just in your performance but in who you are as a person. Having good work ethics, showing initiative, being a good team member will shine a light on an individual as a worthy candidate. This will pave the way for the person to make a viable case for promotion when the time comes. Your performance and good behaviour will stand an individual in good stead and speak for them. The mistake some people make is to want to improve their performance when they are seeking promotion rather than starting from the onset to be a value adding employees. My personal experience was my line manager seeking promotion for me rather than me fighting to be recognised.

Create yourself a list of accomplishments, goals, projects or trainings that you've completed in your role. This is to remind yourself of how vital and successful your contributions are to the team. It's very important that you lead with results and compassion, as you muster up the confidence to ask for your raise. Remember you are not stepping on toes, but you are simply doing what you enjoy in your role and expressing your interest of growing with the company. Furthermore, being a catalyst to continue contributing success with the company.

One thing I have found helpful is applying the feedback received, promptly. This indicates to the giver of the constructive criticism that you're willing to learn and improve upon yourself. It helps them keep a look out for you and guide you in your delivery, to minimise errors if not to totally avoid making them.

My professional life has taught me the value of building bridges on the way up.No one is an island.Your team is made up of bosses former and current.Same applies to colleagues and partners as well as customers.Your growth depends on all of them.Be aware of the fact that you will need or meet them on the way down same as you needed them upstairs.

Be open about your promotion goals. Have regular meetings with your manager where you articulate what you want to achieve in the next half year or year. Ask them what you need to do for your promotion and keep yourself & them accountable to what you talked about.

As the saying goes, leaders are learners. There is no end to learning because knowledge is increasing daily and so one must be open to learning and not stay stuck. So be open to learning either from external courses or internally from colleagues. Show interest in what others are doing but not in such a way that others will feel threatened. Show enthusiasm when you are being asked to do something new and be willing to take on projects that will stretch you beyond your current skill set.

If your goal is to get a certain type of role as a promotion, choose someone who is already working at that role and ask them to mentor you. Learn as much as you to see what you are missing to get the position. If you see you need to improve in a certain area, look around in your team who is already good at it. Ask to shadow them and learn how they do their activities. Always assume to be able to learn from everyone. Being a constant learner can take you to great success.

Another thing to consider is to also be willing to share your knowledge. Your attitude should be to contribute towards the success of the organisation rather than pursuing personal ambition. This attitude has opened great doors for me and given me personal fulfilment.