Almost Promoted: How to Handle

What do you do when a promotion that you expect doesn’t go to you? Naturally, you will have your reactions and these might affect the way you perform in the office. Here’s a rundown of the things you need to do so that instead of delaying your journey to the corner office, you hasten the process and do it with ease.

• Dust it off. In other words, calm down. Not getting a promotion that you’ve been expecting can be a hard blow to the ground, but you won’t go anywhere if all you have is bitterness and disappointment. Do not do or say anything until you know that you are not very emotional anymore. If you are in the finance jobs sector, know that more positions will open up for you. The same way when you are in the banking jobs sector or in media.
• Talk with your boss. It is important to be open to your boss about how you feel. Any wall that may hinder you from having a great working relationship with your superior will not help you in your goal to advance in your career, and so it is always the best thing to let him know that you were disappointed for not getting the promotion. As you express your feelings, let him know that you accept the decision and you would like to know what you could have done better to earn the position.

• Assess the situation. If the position was the only one open during the time of the promotion, then you can easily dismiss that it just wasn’t your time. However, if it is appraisal season and you feel that you are the only one who did not get a promotion, then you can bring up your concern to your boss.
• Be open. As you ask for feedback, put down your defenses and know that your boss is on your side. You should not come to his office with all your excuses and explanations ready to be thrown off. Instead, think objectively and focus on what you can do to improve on yourself. More importantly, do not convince your boss to reconsider his decision. It sends the wrong message about what is important to you, and it can also be offensive to your superior. It’s another way of saying that he made a bad decision, after all.
• Ask for specifics. Your boss can be too nice when he finally gives you feedback. Let him know that you are very open to his opinion, and that you would want to know each and every detail that can help you earn the promotion the next time a vacant position comes up.