Waiting for a Promotion? That’s Your First Mistake

A client recently asked me, “Should I bring up a promotion with my manager—or just wait and see what happens?”

Short answer: Bring it up! If you’re thinking about it, it’s time to start the conversation.

One of the biggest mistakes I see from high performers, especially in tech is assuming that great work speaks for itself. It doesn’t.

Promotions aren’t just about results. They’re about 1) showing that you’re already operating at the next level, 2) demonstrating the right leadership behaviors, and 3) whether there’s a business need for someone at that level right now.

That last part, i.e. business need can be an unwelcome surprise. You might be doing everything right, but if there’s no budget, open role, or organizational pressure, nothing moves. That’s frustrating, but it also means your job is to become the obvious choice before the need arises. Or to look for another role inside or outside your company.

If you’re not sure how to bring up promotion with your manager, try:

“I’m interested in growing into [next role]. What would I need to demonstrate to be seen as ready?”

And then:

“Can we create a plan together and check in regularly so I can stay on track?”

If your manager can’t answer that clearly or seems uncomfortable even having the conversation, you’ve learned something important. Either they don’t have visibility into the promotion process (yes, this happens!), they don’t see you as ready (and aren’t saying it), or they’re not willing to advocate for you.

Any of those is a signal. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but a sign that you need to start managing your growth more intentionally, possibly by finding a new advocate, shifting how you’re showing up, or re-evaluating whether you’re in the right environment for advancement.

Note, that what I shared is just the starting point. There’s a lot more that goes into promotions, especially as you move into higher levels or deal with different company cultures and processes.

If you want help navigating your specific situation, I offer 1-hour career planning sessions: focused, practical, and tailored to you. It won’t solve everything in one shot—but you’ll walk away with clarity, a plan, and specific next steps.