I was recently asked by a colleague of mine about a promotion she was offered when her manager jumped ship to another firm. She told me that the prospect of the promotion excited her and, at the same time, she was terrified!
Who wouldn’t be?
It’s not unusual to feel a bit of trepidation (perhaps terrified?) of a promotion. It’s actually, to some degree, a good feeling to experience. It shows you care – you want to do the organization well. You want to prove that you were the right candidate to select to take on more responsibility and leadership within the organization.
While it might be your first instinct to run away from opportunity out of fear. There are plenty of good reasons why you should take a leap of faith and take the promotion. Today I am going to highlight 5 of them:
You know more than you think you know
Organizations that make profits year-over-year do so for a reason – they make shrewd decisions that allow them to get the better of their competitors. They are counting on you to be one of many good decisions they make this year to help exceed expectations and profitability. And you know what? They are anticipating that they are investing in the right person. Why? Because, contrary to what you may believe, you know more than you think you know.
This piece of sage advice was given to me way back during my first year at UBC by a classmate when I was feeling apprehensive about an exam I was about to take. He was right about my situation and this quote is right about yours as well. One thing to keep in mind is your own cognitive bias. The Dunning–Kruger effect explains that, paradoxically, it is those who are the most capable who underestimate or play down their own abilities. Keep this in mind the next time you find yourself with a bout of self-doubt.
Also keep in mind that your knowledge of the organization, its processes and culture position you tremendously well to excel in your new role. Don’t underestimate that. Sure, there could be more “qualified” candidates in terms of experience outside the organization but it shows that the organization puts emphasis on what you have picked up and, just as importantly, what you have proven so far. This is also a sign of a great organization to build your career.
You may never get this chance again
I am writing from experience. I was offered a leadership position within five months of joining an organization in an entry level position. When I expressed concerns about whether I could take it on and mentioned to my manager I had to give it further thought, he was a bit surprised. When I thought about it more that night, I realized this was my golden opportunity to prove I could take on more responsibility and projects – it was an opportunity that might not come around again! The next day I swiftly took the position and never looked back. When it came to my next promotion, I did not hesitate at all. I knew, once again, that this was an opportunity that might not be offered to me again.
Even if you fail, it’s a success
Failure is a bitter medicine. No one likes it. At the same time, it can make you better and move your career forward. No, that was no typo: failure can make you better. If you take a position and it doesn’t work out, the world is not going to come to an end. Neither is your career. By simply taking initiative and having the courage to take on a new role with bigger challenges, you win and you move your career forward.
You are stronger than you will ever know
This is something I heard a few years ago when I did hot yoga (now I’m more of a gym and Tough Mudder guy). I was in the middle of a pose that was absolutely incinerating my legs. The only thing I wanted to do was to surrender into Shavasana. Right when I was reaching my breaking point (or so I thought), our instructor said to us “You are stronger than you will ever know.” That one statement carried me through that pose and the rest of the session. It’s true because we as humans tend to set self-imposed limitations. This goes beyond the yoga studio; it’s the same reality in the workplace. You are stronger than you will ever know. Take on that new challenge and prove it to yourself.
Your work-life balance will rebalance
This is a big consideration, especially for those with family. A promotion and its challenges can seem daunting. No doubt, at first you will be swamped and have to put in extra time to keep your head above water. This might intimate you. Remind yourself: this is a normal transition to a new position. Over time, you will learn and adapt. You will find you will start on time and end not so late. Nothing great comes without sacrifice, yet over the mountain there is a land of prosperity that awaits – climb that mountain! You will enjoy the view after all your hard work.
Tell me about your experience accepting a promotion. Was there anything that held you back? Comment below!