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Promotions definitely have benefits. However, there are a few problems that can arise that are particular to situations in which a person is promoted from within. Identifying these problems in advance means that we can get ahead of them and avoid exacerbating some tricky situations.
- Shifts in authority are not always welcomed by other team members. Getting promoted means you are becoming peers with people who have been senior to you. It also means becoming more senior to those who have been your peers. While you get your head around your new authority, the rest of your team is also adjusting to that authority. Acceptance of this may take some time. Although you may not be explicitly unwelcome in your new role, it would be foolish not to expect a little resistance to fully accepting you and your new power.
- Getting promoted means a transition from being the best in your last peer group to being least experienced in your new peer group. For people stepping into management for the first time, this is especially true. It would be wise to expect a dip in your confidence and even a little embarrassment as you go from being the best and getting praise and recognition for your work to being the newest and least experienced person with the most to learn on your level.
If you’ve just been promoted, or if you are promoting one of your employees, start preparing for these potentially difficult situations by being aware of them. Getting promoted means forgiving yourself for a tremendous learning curve you’re about to embrace. Promoting someone requires that you prime the rest of your team about how to manage their responses during this personnel transition.
What do you think? Share your ideas in the comments below.