Ready to move up the corporate ladder? Looking for better pay, benefits or just a more fulfilling role? Getting that next promotion can be a complex affair so we’ve compiled a list of handy tips to help you take that next step.

1) Build your Tribe

Make it an active part of your job to take an interest and build relationships with the people around you. This includes your co-workers, boss, supervisor, those in junior positions and people from other departments. Get to know their jobs and the challenges they face, share yours and build rapport. Join in the company events. These are great opportunities to develop your people skills. In an ideal world promotions would be given purely based on merit but often office politics will play an important role. Being on good terms with the people around you and being in tune with the ‘pulse’ of the company will stand you in good stead when a promotion is on the cards.

2) Go beyond the call of duty

Getting promoted requires consistently performing over and above what is necessary. You need to show a passion and motivation for your job and always strive to do your best work. So while looking to the future is important in your grand plan, your focus must be on the now. By focusing on the present, you ensure that you give maximum concentration and effort in completing the tasks at hand. Even if it means helping someone else with work that is not strictly yours. This is particularly beneficial if it includes tasks that are handed down from the next level up. It shows you are capable and willing to get involve and will invariably be remembered when promotion opportunities arise in the future.

3) Ask!

There is nothing wrong with letting your boss and other decision-makers know your career goals and talking about promotion opportunities. Most of them will be happy to talk about this and helpful in explaining what would be required within the company for this opportunity to arise. For example, you might be able to find out if there are any ‘road-blocks’ currently preventing your progress and whether you can do anything to change this situation.

4) Get Results

The simplest way to show you are fit for promotion is by having the results to prove it. If they are quantifiable this is even better since then you can compare your results to your peers and give yourself a better case for promotion. Promotions are not always given purely on quantitative results but they will certainly help and are one of the best guides to future performance. Getting results gets you ahead.

5) Promote Yourself

While modesty is a noble virtue, sometimes you just have to let people know how great you are! You don’t want to be the best kept secret in the business. If people don’t know about your skills and accomplishments, you simply won’t get ahead. Be a known quantity in your work-place and share your accolades with those around you and especially those doing the promoting. Self-promotion in the right doses will help you get ahead.

6) Self-Improvement

Take the time to make a realistic assessment of your strength and weaknesses and look at how you can improve. Understand what knowledge and skill sets are most critical to the company. This will guide you to seeking out the marketable skills and qualifications that help catapult you far beyond the skills required to perform your own job and towards the job you want. When your company looks at who to promote, having the skills to take on the increased responsibility will ensure you are considered.

7) Train a Successor

Sometimes you might struggle to get a promotion simply because you do such a good job that the company would be really stuck without you. It is quite a paradox; you are happy that the company values you so much, but you have become indispensable and it is now holding you back. In this situation, it may be possible to search out prospective employees to take under your wing and offer them training to fill your shoes. In this way you demonstrate your initiative and management skills and ease yourself out of your job, into your new one.

Be professional at all times

Much can be achieved by earning a reputation as a professional worker with a positive attitude. Looking smart, being dependable, positive and cooperative will have your co-workers responding favourably and enable you to build your reputation and credibility. It’s important to have the right outlook when faced with situations or problems. See them instead as challenges and opportunities to shine and show your problem-solving skills. Similarly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. People will respect your honesty and courage to take the most direct route to reach a solution.

9) Find a mentor

This is a proven method of significantly increasing your chances of getting a promotion. A good mentor or coach will offer objective career guidance and steer you in the right direction. For example, a strong relationship with someone higher in the organisation than you will mean you have someone on your side when opportunities like promotions arise. They will help you learn a wealth of information about the organisation and help champion your cause when you decide to apply for a position. If they are your direct senior in the company they may even groom you to fill their job when they leave.

10) Seek the job elsewhere

It is not always possible to get a promotion if the job just isn’t there. The company may not be in a position to offer you progression for one reason or another and if this is the case you may have to consider other companies. This may be hard if you have developed emotional ties but ultimately you have to do what is in the best interests of your career. If you remain in the job you would likely become unhappy anyway if you feel you have much more to offer.