How to Get Promoted: 5 Proven Strategies for Internal Career Growth

By Liz Gehl

If you are looking for a promotion or hoping to land a new internal role within your company doing your job well isn’t always enough. If you want to transition from your current position to a leadership role or a new department, you have to actively manage your career progression.

Most people sit back and wait for their hard work to be noticed, but career growth requires a strategic approach. If you are ready to advance your career and land that next big internal opportunity, here are five strategies to help you get promoted.

1. Show Up, Support Others, Be Helpful, and Build Influence

Being impactful isn’t always about a title; it’s about influence and collaboration. To position yourself for a promotion, you need to show up 100% every day. Be the person who supports colleagues, volunteers for cross-functional projects, and genuinely wants to be helpful. When you lift others up and encourage a collaborative environment, you naturally establish yourself as a key team player and a future executive.

2. Practice Flexibility and Demonstrate Your Value

Sometimes, executive leadership needs to see what you are capable of before they officially promote you into a new role. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and stretch your capabilities. By being flexible and taking on new or temporary challenges, you show decision makers how much value you bring to the table. This allows them, as well as your peers, to see you in a new light.

3. Build Your Visibility Through Small, Continuous Steps

Your direct manager likely knows how talented you are, but do the other senior executives? Building executive visibility is crucial for internal (and external) career advancement. You don’t need to make grand gestures. Focus on taking small, continuous steps to ensure executive leadership is aware of your drive and work ethic. Share your wins, ask insightful questions in meetings, and don’t be afraid to let your desire to learn and grow be known.

4. Advocate for Yourself: Share Your “Why”, Your “How”, and Your Gratitude

One of the biggest employment myths is that your hard work will always speak for itself. The reality is you have to advocate for yourself. If you want a promotion, communicate your ambition clearly, and confidently.

• Share WHY you want it: Express your passion for the company, the brands, and your future vision.
• Share HOW you’ll succeed: Demonstrate a clear plan of action for how you will excel in the new role.
• Share GRATITUDE: Express sincere appreciation for the mentorship and opportunities you’ve already been given along the way.

5. Commit to Continuous Learning and Respect Colleagues

The best leaders never stop learning and they ask a lot of questions. If you want to continuously move upward, never stop developing your professional skills. Cultivate an environment of mutual respect by actively listening to and collaborating with all colleagues, regardless of their rank or title. A reputation for treating everyone with respect is a powerful asset that will follow you throughout your career.

Landing a promotion takes hard work, strategic networking, and self-advocacy. By showing up, staying flexible, building executive visibility, and exhibiting a growth mindset, you will position yourself as the obvious choice for the next big opportunity.

Seeking more hiring tips? Connect with Liz Gehl on LinkedIn