Quiet Promotion
Have you ever experienced a "quiet promotion"?
Basically, quiet promotion is being given extra responsibilities at work without the benefit of a change in compensation or title. It can happen over time when more and more responsibility is placed upon you.
It could be the result of a position within your organization either being outright eliminated or an open position not being filled and that workload is placed onto others. In either case, you find yourself taking on some if not all of that workload.
Quiet promotions are not a new phenomenon but lately, there has been quite a bit of conversation about them. So for many, the question seems to be what you can do if you find yourself in that situation.
How do you proceed?
It all depends on how you feel about what has transpired landing you in this position. You may view this as an opportunity to shine, show your skills and add to your experiences. Maybe even resulting in a promotion. Or maybe over time, it creates a stressful situation and eventually you become disengaged or even resentful of your situation.
How can you go about getting what you deserve?
Are you seeking an eventual promotion, title change, or a spot bonus?
Your eventual outcome could depend on how the company is currently positioned considering its culture and its market relevance.
What Has Changed For You?
How was this opportunity presented to you? How did you feel at the time?
Is this a permanent change to your job description?
Are you doing the job of someone with a higher title?
Does your direct supervisor acknowledge and appreciate what you are currently doing?
Is there a dramatic difference in the outside job market pay scale versus your current compensation?
Are you enjoying the challenge? Are you growing and learning more through this experience? Is it interrupting your work /life balance to the point of being a disruption?
Are there positives being gained from this change? And what have you had to compromise in your life?
Keep a Running Tab
Document exactly what you are doing which is outside of your original job description. Note the impact and measurable contributions gained by your efforts and commitment.
Have you had access to resources to support the increased workload?
Be aware of how you are growing in this assignment regarding both hard skills (cost-benefit analysis ) and soft skills ( time management). Make a note of this growth along with quantifiable examples
This is a critical piece leading up to the conversation regarding establishing your value and how you wish to be compensated
Pow Wow with Your Supervisor
Decide what it is that you want - a salary increase, a promotion or both.
Be very clear on your reasons why you deserve your ask ( this is why a recording of accomplishments was important )
Have you accomplished enough to make your case?
Have you demonstrated that you have the tools and experiences expected?
Once you have organized your case for a promotion, set up a touch base with your direct supervisor to ensure you have their strong support. You want them to be your cheerleader so make sure they know what you have been doing, don't assume that they are well aware that are well aware
Remember timing is everything, so having this conversation following a big win is advantageous to your cause
Practice what you have to say. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, talk about your merits, accomplishments, what you have learned, and even how you have grown because of these added responsibilities.
Outcome
If you have your supervisor's support, request the next steps as to how to proceed. You should drive the conversation and stay on top of how it progresses
If you don't get the reaction that you have hoped for, request feedback with specifics as to what is needed to be demonstrated to ascertain your supervisor's support. This is not the time to be defensive. Listen and have a true conversation where you are in discovery mode.
Ball Is In Your Court
Now you have some decisions to make depending upon the response that you received
If you have your supervisor's support next inquire about a timeline for resolution and don't be shy about asking for regular updates to keep a resolution alive
If you did not get your supervisor's initial support, you have the decision to make:
a.) You can decide to work on the areas of concern which were shared with you at the meeting while getting on the calendar touch base updates for the purpose of receiving regular progress update feedback
b.) You can decide to search for a position at another organization with an updated resume highlighting your newly developed skills and knowledge.
In closing, we all know that there are no guarantees in life. Taking on additional responsibilities can be viewed as a blessing or a curse. If you find yourself in this situation you need to speak up so you get answers to any of your outstanding questions. You must decide to drive the conversation. I would appreciate hearing from you as to how you responded to this situation and what was the outcome if you still find yourself living through this currently what have you learned and what can you share with others?
