I am 27 years old and I have been working two and a half years for the same engineering company. This is my first job. I like the work, but the work environment is so-so. The pay is average, not bad, but nothing to get excited about. However, the work is interesting and as an engineer I’m learning a lot.
My boss promised me that by the end of 2006, I would be promoted to a senior position. It has not happened. I tried to discuss it with him, but he refuses to talk about it. He says the timing is wrong. What should I do? I think I have tried everything.
FH
Dear FH,
I’m afraid your employer may have changed his mind about you and your potential as a senior manager. But instead of leaving your current employer, first wait for an opportunity to talk to your boss, to explain your ambitions and, calmly, ask about your future in this company.
There are a number of possible reasons why this has happened:
1. You have recently displayed a behavior towards him (or others) that he doesn’t like to see in people.
2. He promised something that he can’t deliver; he may not have had the authority to make such a promise in the first place.
3. Since the promise of a promotion, your performance has been lacking in his eyes.
4. Since the promise of a promotion, your attitude towards him or others has changed.
5. Your lack of discretion about his promise caused him to doubt your trustworthiness.
All or some of these issues are usually at the root of this kind of problem. I could do one more: maybe your boss didn’t really promise you anything! Maybe like so many managers wanting to be supportive, he promised recognition. He paid attention to you and in his own clumsy way said something that you misunderstood.
I would like to add that my experience has shown me that whenever a promise for promotion is given, in most cases it doesn’t happen. It just fizzles out! I’ve mentioned the reasons for that in this reply; however what’s interesting in this case is the time elapsed since the promise.
If the promise is for tomorrow, than it’s OK: you may very well be promoted. If the promise of a promotion is months, years away… then it will not likely happen because life has a way of changing things. What's more, promises made in a work environment change everything including the way we behave afterwards and the way people perceive us. I personally don’t like to make promises because in a lot of cases I will have to break them for a number of legitimate reasons. I have learned not to make promises I can’t deliver immediately. It happens to all of us, in all organizations, everyday. Next time someone promises you a promotion, turn it into a firm proposal with time, date, salary, office, organization… make the discussion serious.
AJH July 2007