What's the right lead time to start getting in shape for your next promotion?

Imagine you’d like to take on more responsibility, complexity, scope, impact, and/or be promoted to the next level in your organization. How much time is enough time to start your promotion planning before you hope to move forward?

Leaving ample time to prepare yourself and implement your promotion plan is part logistical and part mindset issue. Allowing enough time to thoroughly research your proposed advancement can help you put your best foot forward.  As we’ve already discussed, before you ever initiate a promotion conversation with your manager, you would have already: 

·          Ensured your performance has differentiated you positively 

·          Gotten to know norms and people involved in the promotion process 

·          Established and begun to build trusting relationships with key stakeholders 

From a mindset perspective, feeling comfortable with your ambition and giving yourself permission to want growth is essential. Starting with the right amount of lead time is also key. Waiting until you’re already wanting to be promoted to begin planning for your move can create an extreme sense of urgency that might not serve you well. Sometimes it's not really an issue for us. Until it becomes one.

On the attention continuum between advancement not being on your radar screen at all and a desperate frenzy to get it or you’re leaving, finding the balance point will enhance your chances of success. I’d call it focused commitment. Like you're going to do what it takes without an emotional attachment to the immediate timing.

Putting yourself in the mindset of focused commitment as you carefully implement your plan over a period of at least a year or more provides the opportunity for you to react with ease to various situations that may arise during the process. 

First off, really getting to know who the right advocates are and how to partner with them so that they can argue the compelling case for you, and building the trust and reciprocity required for them to do that takes time. 

Secondly, the decision committee might like what you're doing and think you are hitting all the right notes, but just want to see a longer track record of consistently delivered results. Those who are passed over for a promotion the first year they are eligible are often being closely watched for their reaction. Staying in the space of focused commitment will be viewed favorably. “Her desperation was palpable” -- less so.  

Yes, there is a certain time frame that should be observed -- beyond a certain period and you should probably cut bait. In the meantime, how you react throughout the period you are considered for advancement is an important indicator of your suitability, which is viewed as critical. It’s just part of the process. 

When is the ideal time to start getting ready for your next promotion? As long as you’re working on mastering your current role, it wouldn’t hurt to think strategically and start planting seeds as soon as your previous promotion takes place. 

Fostering strategic relationships over time, volunteering for committees/ projects where you can gain visibility outside your regular reach, growing your technical and leadership skills, delivering exceptional performance, and ensuring you keep an empowered mindset will all help you move your agenda forward.

Here's a free journal exercise to help you observe your career mindset and begin to clear any disempowering messages.