So, you’ve done a great job. You expect a promotion! Guess again! You’re rewarded through recognition, a one-time bonus, a higher base salary, time off, or another special project. Another special project you say, when you’ve been busting your buns 70 hours a week on a ‘death march’ project. This isn’t too far fetched!
Many of us entered the workforce thinking that big is better – work in a huge organization, have a bigger office, have a bigger title, and have more people working for us. All of which provided a bigger paycheck, higher bonuses, more authority, more respect, more options and higher self-esteem. This promotability model is disappearing.
Fewer people are being promoted. Current number of very few. By 2001 according to one estimate, only 1 manager in 50 was promoted compared to 1 in 20 in 1987.[i] Technology is the reason. Technological advances have made information more accessible, which has made layers of management superfluous.
[i] Barol, Bill, “Staying Afloat,” Time Digital, April, 8, 196, pp. TD 42.