You work hard. You show up, and you make things happen. You contribute to your company, and you help your peers succeed.
So why is everyone being promoted but you?
It would be amazing if we could always be immediately rewarded for our work, just for being awesome at what we do. Unfortunately, however, that’s rarely how it works.
If you want it, then you have to ask for it.
No one sees your efforts more than you do. No one knows what you’ve contributed more than you do. Though you may feel like you’re doing a ton for your organization, you need to know that no one cares about what you’ve done as much as you do.
That’s why if you think you deserve a raise, a promotion, or a bigger office, then you need to ask for those things. Successful people are successful not just because they are more talented than everyone else—they’re successful because they’re better at making their value and talent known to the right people in the right way. They know that if it’s the truth, it’s not bragging.
It can be awkward and uncomfortable to talk about yourself and what you think you’ve earned, but it’s your responsibility to make sure that you and your team are never undervalued for what you bring to the table.
If you want it, you have to ask for it. If you’ve earned it and deserve it and no one’s hearing you, it may be time to find a different audience.
I’d love it if 50 people emailed me to tell me something amazing they did in the last two weeks. But I know I’ll be lucky to get three responses because people are so afraid to say what they’ve done well. Get in the habit now, and you’ll have an easier time asking the next time you’re in the office.
As a speaker and author, Curtis Zimmerman has impacted over one million people with his life-changing messages and award-winning programs. Curtis is an expert at transforming organizations by inspiring individuals to live their lives at performance level.
Want to be inspired? Check out his podcast The Next 24 Hours.
