Emerging Leaders: 5 steps when asking for a promotion

A reader emailed me asking what the are steps when asking for a promotion. In fact, your strategy for asking for a promotion should start long before you make your request.

Here's the approach I shared with her.

1. Over-deliver

First, deliver results like a rock star. It should go without saying that if you ask for a promotion without having a well-established track record of successes in your current role, your request for a promotion could backfire.

2. Be loyal

Make it clear that your allegiance is to the business first, and that your own career comes second.

If that line of thought grates on your nerves, it might be time to look for an organization that's a better match, where being loyal comes easily. If you aspire to climb the ladder, first make sure you ladder is propped against the right building.

3. Identify the decision-maker

In some companies, the decision to promote is made by a person's boss. In other organizations, it's made by the boss's boss or a management committee. In others, peers get to weigh in.

It's important to understand who the key decision-makers are. If you're not clear, ask your mentors or peers who recently have been promoted.

4. Know the requirements

I have a friend who, soon after she was promoted to manager, approached the company's HR person, thanked her for the promotion, and stated her interest in becoming a senior manager.

'What are the requirements?' she asked. The HR official replied, 'It takes two years.' My friend thanked the HR person, and returned to her desk.

But later that day she thought, 'There must be more to it than that.' She returned for a follow-up conversation, and gently asked, 'What would I need to achieve in those two years?'

The HR person thought about it, then listed some more specific criteria. My friend went on to achieve the requirements within six months and became one of the youngest senior managers at her company.

So ask for the requirements, and be politely persistent if at first you don't get specific answers.

5. Make your request

Once you've met the requirements, it's time to make your request. But before making that request, ask yourself, 'Is this the right time?'

Good times to ask are when your company is doing well and is growing and hiring. It's also good to ask after you've achieved a big win or gotten a stellar performance review.

Here's a script to follow:

'I understand the role requires …' and list the requirements, having made certain that you've met them. Next, say, 'I believe I am the ideal candidate for this role because …

' and list why you meet each requirement.

Now let the decision-maker respond. If she or he agrees, ask, 'What are the next steps to move forward?'

If you sense they are hesitant, here's a follow-up question to ask: 'Is there any additional information you need to consider me as the ideal person for the position?' Listen carefully, and consider this as your action plan to move forward.

When it comes to asking for a promotion, prior planning pays off. Start planning in advance and you'll boost your chances of success.

• Jo Miller is founding editor of BeLeaderly.com and CEO of Women's Leadership Coaching Inc., @jo_miller