We’re closing out this month with the final installment of our Coached by Vanity series. This week, we learn the story of a client whose experience is one that far too many women of color can relate to.
When a new position opens up on your team, is it a time to advocate for yourself or to seek promotion externally? Dive into this week’s letter for more:
Dear Vanity,
I’ve been at my current job for about three years now, and I feel ready for a change. I want to be making more money, and I want to have more of a leadership role.
My manager just left for a new position at a different company, and I’ve been made responsible for most of her projects. While I haven’t been appointed as interim director of the department, I’ve naturally had to take on supporting my other teammates who are more junior.
The company is still leading a search for the role, and I can’t lie, I feel a little slighted that there haven’t been any discussions yet of getting me ready for the promotion.
Is this a time to advocate for myself and express my intentions with the role? Or do I take my company not preparing me as my former boss’ successor as a sign that they are not serious about me?
-Promote Me
Hey Promote Me,
I’m so glad you reached out about this. Turnovers are obviously common in the workplace, but for women of color, we don’t always have the assurance that an opening in our department means we will be promoted to the new position.
You point out that there have been no discussions about getting you ready for your manager’s former role. That’s a sign to me that your company has some cracks in their DEI values. While no one is guaranteed a promotion, any person in upper management would be able to spot that you’re taking on a new level of work that doesn’t match your pay grade or title. You also don’t mention that your manager did anything on her way out to prepare you for the transition, or recommend you for it. Her lack of advocacy for you has unfortunately left you with the burden of making the case for yourself.
While I understand your need to increase your salary and advance in your career, here are a few things I would encourage you to consider as you get clearer on your next steps:
Is This a Place You Can Thrive?: Especially if this promotion would be your first time in a supervisory experience, you want to ensure that it’s a place where you would have the support that you need not just to do the job, but to thrive in it. What kind of professional development opportunities does your company offer, and how supportive are they of their employees pursuing those opportunities? Management, especially when you are new to it, requires a team of people who believe in your leadership, and give you the resources to make your vision a reality. Consider whether or not this is the place that you can succeed as a leader.
List Out Your Accomplishments: I encourage every client of mine to keep a running document of their accomplishments on the job. This should showcase not just your daily responsibilities, but what the impact and outcomes of the responsibilities are (try your best to quantify this). If you do decide to pursue the promotion at your current company, this list of accomplishments can help you advocate for yourself with solid evidence of the value you’re bringing to them. Don’t be shy when you do this, either! It’s not braggadocious or arrogant to have a laundry list of your successes there.
Broach the Conversation by Seeking Feedback: If you’re set on pursuing the role that’s now open at your current company, you can ask to meet with other senior leaders or those involved with the role’s hiring process. If there’s a specific person on that team whom you already have a relationship with and trust, I would recommend going to them first to provide you with more candid feedback about how to increase your odds of landing the promotion. I emphasize trust again, because receiving feedback on this scale should come from someone whom you know has your best interest at heart.
You Can Always Promote Yourself: I promise that I’m not in the business of telling every woman of color to leave her job. But if one job won’t promote you, another one will. If all else fails and you conclude that this current company is not where you want to advance your leadership, you can start exploring external opportunities and be on your way to a self promotion in just a few months. Make sure, though, that the next company shares the same values as you and will have the resources and will to support you in your new role.
I hope these points have given you some food for thought. No matter what you decide, take care of yourself. Ramp up the self-care, and get real about what it is that you truly desire. If you believe this company is the right place for your next chapter, I can support you in navigating that. And if not, you know I’m always here to help you figure out what’s next.
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