What to do if you're not getting promoted

Before today's newsletter, we want to share some resources you can refer to as we process yet another death of a Black man, Daunte Wright. This death comes at the heels of hate-fueled attacks against the Asian community after a particularly difficult year as covid-19 continues ravaging communities of color. If you are in a position to donate, consider donating to the Black Lives Matter movement and/or Asian Americans Advancing Justice. This exhibit by Anti-Racism Daily is a great resource for learning about Black history in a virtual, curated manner. And finally, Inclusive Therapists is a directory of therapists that centers BIPOC communities. Their mission is straightforward: "All people with all abilities in all bodies deserve equal access to identity affirming, culturally responsive care."

We often receive this question:

I’ve been up for promotion twice in the past two years and am not succeeding. What can I do?

Build external relations that will both aid the company/firm in achieving its profitability, revenue or cost-cutting goals.

Join and participate in industry or professional groups.

Build internal relations with people in your company, on your team, in your area of practice, in your division, etc.

All your internal relationships are valuable, so don’t look only to those who can aid your career path, also look toward those who career path you can aid.

Learn who the “influencers” are (sometimes they are clerical, sometimes in the executive suite, sometimes your peers - keep your ear to the ground).

Find a sponsor or two (or three or four). Sponsors are people who have power to influence decisions about your career and who are willing to use that power for the benefit of “their” people

Be of service to your sponsor - learn their “interests,” i.e., their needs, desires, challenges, fears, preferences and priorities - and work to serve those interests if you have the power to do so.

Be willing to ask your sponsor for career advice, including when would be the appropriate time to ask for a raise or a promotion.

And finally, this month we'll be giving a Hundred Buck Hour to someone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a woman of color. If this is you (or someone you know) simply reply to this email and let us know. If you nominated yourself or someone else for previous months and they also fall into this category, let us know so we can add in that name once again!

Happy negotiating,