So, you’ve done a great job. But the client thinks or even asks: “What have you done for me lately?” You expect a promotion or a higher base salary! Guess again!
There’s a good chance you’re going to be rewarded through recognition, a one-time bonus, 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! At least, you have a project to go to.
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 promoteability model has largely disappeared. A few years ago, according to one estimate, only 1 manager in 50 will be promoted compared to 1 in 20 in 1987. Technology is the reason. Technological advances have made information more accessible, which has made layers of management superfluous.
Life Lesson Learned: Memories are short. The memories of your value-added contributions are even shorter. Get in front of your boss and boss’s boss to communicate your value contributions.