You really wanted that promotion to become a senior engineer, architect, or member of the technical staff, but for some reason, you were overlooked yet again. Of course, you\u2019re disappointed, but you\u2019re also somewhat relieved. \u201cOh well, I am probably not ready yet,\u201d you thought to yourself.<\/p>\n
If this sounds like you, then there is one thing that\u2019s holding you back. It is not your skill, ability, or performance. It\u2019s your limiting beliefs. That\u2019s right: You are holding yourself back from getting promoted due to your own limiting beliefs. What are limiting beliefs? They are the assumptions we have that restrict us from achieving our goals and potential. These beliefs are not based on facts, yet they are very powerful in holding us back from getting what we want.<\/p>\n
In this case, these limiting beliefs inhibit your progress to promotion.<\/p>\n
It is true that your promotion will be decided by people other than yourself. Usually, it is your direct manager and the manager of your manager. However, while you are not the decision-maker, you have the power to influence that decision. This is because the two important factors contributing to the decision are your performance and behavior \u2014 both of which you can completely control.<\/p>\n
Replace this limiting belief with: \u201cI care about my performance and behavior, and therefore, I put effort into my work and how I behave.\u201d<\/p>\n
You might be thinking that when you\u2019re promoted, you will be expected to work more. But unless you\u2019re being promoted from a developer to a CEO, you won\u2019t be working 16-hour days all of a sudden. Yes, you will be expanding your scope and responsibilities as you get to the next level in your career, but you won\u2019t be feeling like you\u2019re taking on a lot more work because \u2014 guess what \u2014 you\u2019ve probably already been performing at the next level. That inner voice telling you that you don\u2019t have the capacity for more work is just your limiting belief.<\/p>\n
Replace this limiting belief with: \u201cI am an efficient and capable person and I always deliver on my promises.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is a tiny voice inside you that says you\u2019re not enough. You\u2019re not worth it. It\u2019s too late for you. Or it\u2019s too early for you. That you are too young\/junior\/outspoken\/introverted\/shy to be promoted. That those who were promoted are more intelligent\/charismatic\/technical\/hardworking or any other reason that you can make up. This is what you\u2019re thinking: That person who got promoted recently has amazing technical skills and is such a great team player who was always helping others. How about you? You, on the other hand, are just an average Joe or Jane. You\u2019re not special, so no wonder you\u2019re not getting a promotion.<\/p>\n
Did you know that you don\u2019t need to be special to be promoted? You just need to perform really well in your role, contribute to the organization\u2019s success, and display good behavior.<\/p>\n
Replace this limiting belief with: \u201cI deserve to be promoted because I have made an impactful contribution to the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
You associate wanting anything in life with being greedy, whether it\u2019s a promotion, money, or even relationships. Maybe you have even had some bad experiences with those who are selfish and greedy, and some of those folks happen to have the position that you\u2019re aiming for.<\/p>\n
Being selfish or greedy has nothing to do with one\u2019s role. Chances are, they have always been selfish or greedy. Besides, you\u2019re your own person, and just because someone is selfish or greedy doesn\u2019t mean you will be too.<\/p>\n
Replace this limiting belief with: \u201cBeing promoted to the next level will enable me to add more value to the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
This limiting belief about getting a promotion suggests that you don\u2019t value your work and your abilities. Getting a promotion means that you\u2019re performing above and beyond your role and responsibilities. By not taking a promotion seriously, you are also undermining the work you do \u2014 and that is the reason why you haven\u2019t gotten recognized for your work. It\u2019s like a catch-22.<\/p>\n
Replace this limiting belief with: \u201cGetting a promotion means I am being recognized for my work, and it\u2019s important to me because I strive for excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n