Promotability, am I ready?

It's that time of the year. We are all starting to reflect on 2020, and think about what 2021 will bring. I am a people leader, and I am constantly having development conversations, with my team and colleagues across my organization. What is front of mind with most? How do I get an edge in my career? How do I leverage my next project into a promotion? Lastly, the million dollar question, am I ready for a promotion? These are tough questions, and I field them daily.

One thing I just shared recently with a colleague is this. By the time you get to the interview, the interview is over. What? How can that be? Isn't the interview the beginning of the process? No, in fact the interview is the very last step of the process. All the things you did, or didn't do in the months prior are the very first steps in the process, and if you ask me, the most important. It is the reason why, I encourage anyone who meets with me on career advice to focus on how do you present yourself? Not just in your big skip level, but how do you present yourself daily? Every email follow up, every deck you sent out, every meeting you did or didn't speak up in. ALL those things are important, and if you ask me, the biggest part of the process.

So, now that we are aware that not only is the interview important, but everything in between is just as important, does that mean you can't make a mistake? No! In fact I would say it even louder NOOOOOOO! You absolutely can, and you will make mistakes. I make them daily. But, now that you know everything you do is important you know your mistakes are important too. How do you react when you take a misstep? Do you cover it up? Pretend it didn't happen? I would say, show resilience in your mistakes. Show your senior leadership you are coachable, vulnerable and humble. Showing the vulnerability to leadership when you make a mistake is key, but showing the resilience in correcting that mistake is what takes you to the next level.

So next time you think about, am I ready? Before you polish up your resume and cover letter, reflect on how have you shown up in the months before. Embrace the mistakes you have made along the way, they define us as well. Lastly, no matter what continue to forge along with the resilience as that will make you the next promotable candidate.