WHAT IF YOU DON’T GET A PROMOTION?

The training program was in full swing. As the program was interactive and lined up with humour every participant was having a hearty laugh. However, there was one person sitting in the last row who declined to exercise his facial muscles and did not even smile. The speaker went close to him, stood nearby and detailed a humorous anecdote which again attracted a loud laughter, however this gentleman refusing to be a member of the joyous team. At the end of the program, when a feedback form was circulated, in the last column of the feedback, there was a question “Your comments in a nutshell”. In one of the forms the feedback was ‘the snack given during the program was too inadequate.” Incidentally, this reply Which was totally irrelevant to the context, was given by the same person. On verification, it was observed that this person was one of the contestants for the post of the Head of the organization and was not selected, though he had been in the same organization for long years. Since then, his responses and reactions to all that happened in the organization was negative and aggressive. Indeed, he turned out to be a self-defeating person.

A number of years might have passed by and you haven’t got a promotion. You have a few options.

1.   You quit the present position and seek a job with an elevated position somewhere else.]

2.   You can stay back loyal to this organization and feel depressed.

3.   You may decide not to work hard and reserve your right not to be your best. Or

4.    You may still continue to enjoy what you are doing.

Life is just a matter of a few choices.

Let us come to terms with a few facts

1.   

A promotion is not necessarily an indication of someone’s ability, competence or skill always. A promotion could happen for several other reasons –

a. Because certain rules and regulations are followed which do not have provision for acknowledgement of any merit. (Such rules may be questionable but that is what they are)

b. The skills required for that position may not warrant the same skills exhibited for a previous post and hence opens up more possibilities for selection.

c. the personal considerations of the management or the top official plays a divisive role and your relationship doesn’t favour your selection.

All the above do not downgrade one’s professional competence, skill and ability.

2.   A promotion might give a professional status but not professional leadership. A number of people elevated to senior positions have occupied the chair because the privilege has been bestowed on them for one reason or the other; not really because they ‘deserved’ it. In such cases any privilege or authority enjoyed by them is ‘positional’ and will vanish with the ‘positions’. In the event of an individual who is professionally competent, he can exercise professional leadership whatever position he or she occupies. They are recognized by the professional masses for who they are and not for where they are.

3.   A promotion might come with a set of packages and facilities which one may lose in the event of being ignored. Yes, but the monetary packages and comforts do not necessarily give the ‘joy’ of being what ‘you are’. Though in a consumerist world, this argument may not sustain much, it is important to understand that defeating oneself for this reason, is more injurious than the loss of promotion.

4.   The fact that one does not get a promotion doesn’t make him in any way ‘inferior’ provided his skills and abilities stand by him or her. One’s ability to still work in the team without any inhibition or reservation, would add to the ‘professional respect’ the individual commands.

5.   In a number of cases, those elevated to higher positions without adequate knowledge and skill seek the support of the competent as their ‘inward journey’ creates a lot of roadblocks.

It is important to understand that a skilled professional does not defeat himself or herself because of such interventions. Rather any such act would amount to an ‘intellectual suicide’. Liberating the ‘joy of knowledge, skills, competencies’ from workstations would give an opportunity for continuous growth and a life long elevation. Growing beyond the limits of positions in workstations is a rewarding Life Skill!