Coaching for a Promotion – The IEC Debrief with Tom Floyd

Coaching for a Promotion – What Does It Take to Get Ahead?

^{According to an April 17th, 2007 article in Personnel Today Magazine titled “Manage a Major Promotion,” HR consultancy Dimensions Data International (DDI) concluded that “managing a major promotion is second only to divorce in terms of life stress.”}

Simon Mitchell, a director at DDI, advised that if you are about to or are going through a promotion, you need to anticipate this stress. Your organization should help you cope with the changes in your new role, with minimum disruption.

However the article noted just one in three leaders indicated their company provides any type of support to help make the mental shift required for a big promotion.

What strategies can people apply to successfully get promoted?

How can professionals manage the stress associated with promotions?

What work are professional coaches doing to prepare their clients for promotions, as well as overcome challenges and hurdles once they land the job?

Our guests addressed these questions and more.

• Why the overall promotion process is stressful for many people.
• What it takes to get ahead in the corporate world today.
• What executives and managers look for in “promotable” employees.
• Guidelines to use when highlighting your accomplishments and “self promoting” yourself appropriately.
• Strategies for advancement and promotion during our current economic state.
• How coaches are working with professionals to advance up the career ladder.

Fernan Cepero VP of Human Resources, YMCA of Greater Rochester, NY
Jane Cranston, Executive and Career Coach, Managing Director, Executive Coach NY
Anne Loehr, Executive Coach, Riverstone Endeavors, LLC
Susan Whitcomb, President, Career Coach Academy & Leadership Coach Academy

It never really occurred to me just how stressful a promotion can be – from the effort going into landing a promotion to handling the stress associated with additional responsibilities and managing people, our guests made it clear that promotions can be challenging.

Susan Whitcomb summarized several factors that can impact the stress associated with promotions, including organizational culture, the individual’s experience in managing people, and how proactive the newly promoted individual is seeking mentors to guide them.

I also asked our guests to discuss what it takes to get ahead in the corporate world today, and traits seemed to include having a vision for the team that fits within the overall organization, maintaining and developing relationships, and adaptability to change.

In terms of what motivates people to seek a promotion, while money and ego certainly sound like they play a role for many people, an important point we discussed is having what Susan calls “the itch” – or an overall personal motivation to grow, develop, and expand one’s skills.

How do these points land on you?

• Have promotions been stressful for you in the past? Why or why not?
• What do you think it takes to get ahead in the corporate world today?
• What’s motivated you to seek a promotion before? Money? Ego? The “itch” to grow and learn more?
• What do managers in your company look for in “promotable people” so to speak?

Looking forward to some good discussion!

Best,

Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

Coaching for a Promotion

Career Development Insight on Coaching Promotions Fernan Cepero YMCA Jane Cranston Executive Coach NY Career Coaching Generations in the Workplacel Simon Mitchell DDI Anne Loehr A Manager’s Guide to Coaching Career Advancement Riverstone Endeavors Mentoring Getting Ahead Tom Floyd Susan Whitcomb Career Coach Academy Leader Coach Academy Job Promotion Workforce Performance Employee Development Turbo Tagger

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