There are few things as disconcerting as the vulnerability you experience whilst putting your future at someone elses disposal.
So is the case with having to “ask” for a promotion. Some of us are not lucky enough to have our worth recognised for whatever reason. It could be that we didn’t showcase our achievements, or that our superiors just turn a blind eye to our contribution. Whatever it may be, you should focus on these lines as you approach your boss to prove you deserve a promotion:
Communicate:
It is very important for an ambitious employee to have an open communication channel with their employer. If you’ve previously asked for a promotion and been declined because “you’re not ready yet,” ask your boss why they think you’re not ready and what you should do to improve. The truth is that every industry and then every boss has different standards or requirements. You can only prove you deserve a promotion when you know what they’re looking for and work toward being that person.
Another important thing to note here is your choice of wording. Instead of “I want a promotion because I deserve it/I need the money” lean more towards “I believe I could bring much more benefit to the organisation with a more senior position because…” and continue with your reasoning then.
Identify and showcase the profits:
The first thing you should do is to identify the profitable “trends” you’ve supported, promoted or initiated. Emphasise on what you’ve brought to the corporate table as an employee—make a comprehensive list highlighting all your relevant accomplishments and all that the company has gained from your expertise.
Back your claims with stats:
Your argument in this case cannot be totally subjective or emotional, it should be based on facts and statistical figures. Produce a professionally formatted document featuring the profits the company has gained solely from your contribution.
The key factor here is consistency. Having one or two good reports or well-managed projects in your CV hardly has the same effect as a consistent 6-month productive contribution to the cause. Having a consistently good file will help you address the situation more effectively.
Show that you have gone the extra mile:
The entire concept of ranking and promotion is based on “levels”. To show that you are ready for a promotion, you must prove with your thought and action, that you have gone (or are willing to go) a step further. Have you taken on extra projects or worked on multiple projects simultaneously because one of your fellow employees was on holidays? Maybe you can underline your superior management skills or multitasking potential with specific examples of what you‘ve done over time.
Make sure not to evade responsibility or overstate your contribution:
We all make mistakes and assuming it’s not a “I singlehandedly dragged your company into bankruptcy” level mistake, your boss will understand. One thing that almost all employers expect from senior-ranked employees is transparency and trust. Never make your mistakes the subject of conversation but assuming it does come up, do not evade responsibility and state your willingness to improve (or even show how you’ve improved) and your boss will subconsciously know you’re already partly up for the promotion.
All in all, your case should be based on your statistics, qualification and contributions instead of needs or wants. If you can use math to prove that you’re fit for promotion, any reasonable person should not disagree. Otherwise, there’s plenty of fish in the sea (or in this case, employers in the market), good luck!