The top skills you need to get that promotion at work
As a skilled worker or professional, you no doubt put in a lot of effort to meet the demanding needs of the business you work for. Sometimes, you may even go above and beyond to meet your goals and targets. But if you’re angling for a promotion, that’s not all there is to it. Of course, you need to put the effort in, but there are other skills that will help you to climb up the career ladder - so read on to find out all about the top skills you need to get that promotion at work.
Leadership skills
Leadership is probably the most important skill you need to have when it comes to getting that new job or promotion at work. Many people are confused about the difference between being a good leader and being a good manager. Being a good leader means people want to follow you. Leaders are agents for change, they take (considered) risks, they coach, and they build relationships. By being able to lead with vision and passion you’ll demonstrate to your bosses that you have what it takes to be given more responsibility - and more pay!
Persuasion skills
A relative of that leadership skill is persuasion - it’s your ability to negotiate with and influence people. It is the talent to get others to buy into your ideas and want to do things your way. It’s not about forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do; instead, the art of persuasion is to get them to want what you want. The key skills needed for successful persuasion include empathy, active listening, being reliable, taking responsibility and providing solutions that work.
Communication skills
Another very important skill that you need to help you move to a better job is your ability to communicate well within your workplace. This is your ability to effectively and efficiently get the message across to a wide variety of people in different positions across your organisation. Communication is a key factor in the success of any business, so it’s only natural that by being a great communicator you’ll be more valued by your employer.
Be a team player
No employer is going to like it if you’re focussed on ‘I’ rather than ‘we’. Team players who are committed to working for the greater good of the team ultimately benefit the business, so make sure you get noticed by volunteering before you’re asked. Getting noticed means you’ll be top-of-mind when the promotions come around.
Learning and development
Show your boss that you’re committed to continuously improving and developing your skills. Seek out learning opportunities both within your organisation and outside of it. This doesn’t have to be formal education – subscribing to relevant webinars, attending conferences or just asking to be involved in a work activity that’s outside of your usual scope will demonstrate to your boss that you’re serious about your career.
Problem-solving skills
Whatever your current position is, there will always be problems at work that need to be solved. Good problem-solving skills involve the ability to identify and define the issue, develop potential solutions, evaluate and select the best alternative, and then make it happen effectively and efficiently.
Time management skills
A promotion means you’ll have more tasks and more responsibilities on your plate. Without good time management skills, your boss may think you’ll struggle to manage the extra responsibilities, so make sure you demonstrate that you know how to plan and manage your workload in appropriate time frames. This skill enables you to work smarter - not harder - which means that you’ll get more done in less time, even if you have tight deadlines and other pressures. Whether you’re aiming for a leadership role or not, this is a must-have skill that you need to get that promotion.
Your personal goal
A combination of all these skills will help you to get the promotion you know you deserve. But for most of us, behind the desire to get a promotion at work is the personal goal of the improved financial position that comes with the increased salary that’s normally associated with a better job or increased responsibility. If your promotion is taking longer than you’d like, and you're in need of some extra money, just check out our fast cash loans to $5K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours!