There are many factors going into why a person is selected for a different role in the same organization, including promotions. Not all of these are under your control. It’s tempting but unhelpful to craft a narrative that makes someone else the villain.
Instead, I encourage you to consider the common characteristics of people who most often are given new and better assignments:
- High Energy, High Output
- Owner Mindset – takes responsibility for projects and results
- Superior project execution (both small and large)
- Versatile toolbox to generate solutions
- Frame events positively; find path forward around obstacles
- Embraces change and models behavior changes
- Uses feedback to improve performance
- Proactive, frequent and skilled communication about work underway
- Impress people with meeting prep and follow-through
- Broad skill base with specific depth of skill/experience (T-shape)
- Expanding personal networks; referrals come easily when the question of “Who can ______?” surfaces
- Make the boss and team stronger
You can shape these. You can consciously work at these each week. Paint the portrait of what you want to be, then do the necessary work to move in that direction.
