How to do self-promotion without the cringe factor

In this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, working hard is not enough to warrant promotion. We must be willing to put ourselves out there. Some recoil at the idea of self-promotion, but it’s not all about bragging or stepping over other colleagues to get ahead. It’s about being confident enough to highlight your accomplishments and finding strategic and respectful ways to seek new opportunities.  

Two major factors play a role in the quest for promotion: 

• Working proactively to demonstrate your abilities 
• Asking to be given an opportunity

Here are some ways you can do this:

Demonstrate your potential

Showing that you are a high-potential rather than just high-performing employee has many benefits. High-potential employees prove they are not only excelling in their roles but also pushing themselves to improve their skills by taking on new roles and responsibilities. They focus on long-term career plans and future leadership ambitions. Think strategically about all the benefits you can and will be able to offer. In academia, this could involve:

• Identifying the skills you possess and you plan to gain to be successful in the role you wish to take on
• Demonstrating your desire to learn new skills by enrolling on courses on communication, leadership or digital skills 
• Learning niche discipline-specific skills or subject knowledge 
• Attending industry conferences to stay updated on your area of expertise 
• Focusing on collaborative teaching or project-related activities that may help develop the student community and meet the institution’s sustainability goals
• Researching the key performance areas (KPAs) or metrics relevant to your role and showing how your performance relates to these
• Demonstrating how you are working towards the Sustainable Development Goals in your teaching and research.

Build relationships

It’s essential to identify the decision-makers who will give you the green light for promotion opportunities. You want these people on your side, so be a good team player and treat everyone respectfully. Expand your reach within and outside your department; the most visible person is usually the one who gets the job. Tactics include:

• Finding ways to collaborate with other faculty in specific classes
• Connecting with contacts over coffee or lunch to discuss interests or projects
• Sharing some articles you’ve read that may be of interest to other colleagues.

One of the best ways you can form great relationships with colleagues is to listen mindfully and actively to what others have to say. Practise active listening by focusing more on the message, reflecting on what the person might be feeling and using this to inform your responses. It may seem obvious but simply demonstrating non-verbal cues such as nodding and maintaining eye contact can also make a huge difference. 

• Resource collection: Is your academic career cleared for take-off?
• What is tenure in education – and how to get it
• Hone the story of your career to make a case for promotion

Request and listen mindfully to the feedback you get from other staff members and potential mentors to further develop the skills and competencies you need for the job you want. Based on their feedback, conduct a self-evaluation that emphasises your career achievements and your contributions to the organisation’s growth.   

Life’s high achievers are not the ones who sit back and wait for someone to hand them opportunities. They are the ones who raise their hands and ask for them. So be confident in your abilities and believe in your potential. You will need to back yourself if you want to achieve your goals. 

Shilpa Gopal is assistant professor (senior scale) in the department of commerce, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.