That question is: Are you playing a short game or long?
Welcome to episode 1 of the Amazon Fall series, aka AF#1 - The full AMZN Fall Series here: charleskunken.com/season2)
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Tactics
Here are some tips I’ve collected for getting a promotion. They will probably hold in most corporate settings:
Understand the performance bar of the next level and perform at it.
Recognize the six or so people who will need to endorse you.
Ask them regularly, what is the most helpful thing you can do (or better yet bring ideas).
Over deliver.
Now let’s take a step back.
Input vs. Output Metrics
In the long game a promotion is as an output metric – the result of excellent work.
Your best work will come from having enthusiasm, joy, curiosity, interest, etc. These are input metrics.
All systems work best in the long run when optimizing for inputs.
Know Your Goals
Sometimes we may need to grind out a short game to get to a better place (e.g., get a promotion or sock away some money for a little while).
When you’re crystal clear about your objectives, then paying your short game dues can feel good and productive, instead of draining.
If you’re aimlessly paying dues however, life is not fun. So understand which game you are playing and how long you intend it to last.
What Happens After The Promotion
In the long game, a promotion is a beginning rather than then an end.
Trying to get paid as much as soon as possible for what’s directly in front of you could look very different from trying to get paid as much as possible over your life for doing what’s most exciting.
Know your goals and recognize if you are playing a short game or a long.
They’ll Actually Come Quicker
When you aren’t running on the ‘need a promotion’ treadmill, you can focus on adding value and learning how to add value in more complex ways commensurate with your increasing experience.
Being known as a source of value is the best investment you can make in your personal currency.
When you find the right role at the right company your goals will be aligned. Here’s a good test: do the promotions feel like they require swimming upstream or down?
You win at life when you can play the long game.
Image: Tiger Woods, Credit Unknown
You need a really great short game, like Tiger, but the purpose of the short games are to get you to the long. Be self-aware. Aim then fire.
Have some thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment or hit me up: charlie@charleskunken.com