The Oyemaja Executives, a division of The Oyemaja Group
Employee promotion is a touchy area for employers because no one yearns to be in the same position at work for too long. It is a great feeling to be able to confidently give your employee a promotion; however, it is not that simple.
There are many types of promotions –while some guarantee advancement in the job position or rank, others may guarantee an increase in the salary. In some organizations, a promotion may result in a just change of duties and responsibilities. Promoting employees for their performance excellence is important to value their efforts and keep their morale up.
There are so many things to consider before offering your employee a promotion, such as whether the person is really the best fit for the new title or whether there is room for promotion within the company, even if they are deserving.
Think about the following traits below when considering someone for promotion:
1. The Ability to Always Prioritize Work and Meet Deadlines
Getting things done in a timely and efficient manner is a skill that can’t be overlooked. An employee who is constantly checking off their to-do list despite how challenging the tasks are and then pushing their own personal boundaries without being prompted to is a great indicator that they are ready to take on even more.
2. A Positive Attitude
No matter how hard-working your employee maybe, if they don’t have a positive attitude, you might want to reconsider a promotion. Work is not only about getting things done; it’s about being an inspiration to the people around you, especially when you are moving towards a leadership role. The manager on the team sets the mood for the team to follow, and giving off negative energy will only serve to disengage your employees.
3. Is Indispensable
One way to ascertain if someone is due for promotion is when that person is irreplaceable. Has the person become the go-to person for something specific, like designing dynamic sales decks to dealing with challenging customers? People in positions like this are not only sought after by coworkers but are also vital to the growth of a company. It is not hard to pick out these people from a crowd because they naturally stand out as someone people gravitate towards.
Signs an employee is not ready for a promotion
In addition to knowing the hard skills that are requisite to do the job, there’s an element of personality that’s important for managers to consider when promoting an employee, either to a leadership position or one where they will simply have more face time with clients and the rest of the company members. Here are some negative traits to check out for when looking for an employee to promote:
1. They Lack Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence and empathy are some of the most important traits for leaders. A job is more than a task; it’s about a whole ecosystem of people and systems.
2. They Don’t Possess the Required Skills for the Role
People are promoted based on their skills in their current role and not for the future role. When promoting an employee, you will, of course, have to consider that there will be a learning curve before they assimilate perfectly to the new role. However, it’s important to think about the skills they possess currently and if the employee has any of the required skills needed for the next step, such as leadership skills if they would be entering a managerial role.
3. They Don’t Learn from Feedback
The best candidates for promotion are those who are constantly eager to improve. If your employee doesn’t listen to or learn from your feedback, it is a sign that they are resistant to improvement. Not being open to bettering themselves as employees is a reason to hold back on promotion because promotion and growth are simultaneous.
Getting an employee promoted is not an easy task—it takes time and dedication to learn about your workers and how they help the business. If you successfully choose to pick someone for a salary increment with these tips, you never know; you might just be helping your business grow. Don’t let a lack of opportunities for promotion stop you from investing in employee development for everyone on your team. Doing so will help you continue their growth and learning and boost their morale and motivation.
