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Ask the Experts: Position Yourself for a Promotion When Your Boss Moves On

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January 27, 2011


Question:

I am a middle manager in an organization that uses a matrix rather than a traditional organization chart. The manager to which I report has been offered a new position within our company but in a different department and geographic location. Our Board has not yet decided who will replace him. There are three leading contenders and they’re continually struggling against each other for increased portfolios. I see this as an opportunity to climb the corporate ladder, but I’m unsure how to do so as I do not wish to project an image of someone who is restless or who takes advantage of a difficult situation. Any suggestions?

First Answer:

Your ambitions and respect for the indication are a clear indication that you’re not restless or being difficult but rather that you’re committed to the organization and ambitious. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that. Often in the business world, it’s all about the spin–that is, the way an argument or proposal is spun or presented. Successful businesspeople will tell you it’s the same way with business careers. In this case, you want to spin your proposal as a positive one.

Without knowing all of the details of your reporting structure and the interim management team during the transition time, it’s hard to provide specific options, but you can spin a positive argument about how you can lead and provide stability during this time. Try going to your old boss and thank him/her for the support and guidance you have received thus far. Ask him or her for advice: are you ready to take on additional roles? Would he or she support your request? If you receive a green light, you can then proceed to interim management and ask for an opportunity to rise to the occasion. Offer your willingness to take on additional leadership responsibilities and tasks. You’re not looking for a promotion per se but rather a chance to bridge the gap and prove your commitment to the organization.

Keep the conversation positive and focused on how you can help and why this interim role would be a good one for the organization. Whether or not your offer is accepted, the organization will likely look fondly upon your positivist and willingness to pitch in. This kind of attitude and ambition will certainly be rewarded down the road. Remember, it’s all about the spin. Will such a leadership role help you? Absolutely. But more importantly, you want to showcase how it will help the organization. After all, that’s what they pay you to do!

Susan Strayer, Assistant Director, Career Services, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education at the Johns Hopkins University and founder and President of University and Career Decisions

Second Answer:

By virtue of the fact that your company uses a matrix organizational chart, you are in a very advantageous position. As I understand the concept, you and your colleagues are taking on a number of responsibilities and tasks that require unified efforts toward making your expertise and focus mesh with all of the others. You are also required to have input into the other parts and have intelligence about them so that success is assured.

From my understanding of this concept, you will not be seen as projecting an offensive image if you present yourself as a contributor who has achieved quantifiable results in the areas where you have primary responsibilities. Your skills and qualifications are enhanced by the contributions you have made where you reported to or coordinated with the outgoing manager.

A little more research on matrix organization charts brought me to a research paper by Yimin Zhu, Ph.D., CCE, “Organization Structures” (PDF version) (See also Organization Structures (HTML version).) Although it is written for an engineering discipline, the explanations of how a system requires the input of its parts and how it attains viability are worth serious study. As you work through Dr. Zhu’s explanations, you may be better able to see how you have made significant contributions as part of your routine that deserve recognition and reward by way of your assuming the position of the outgoing manager.

May all your Entrances be through the doors of success!

Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice

Third Answer:

Many ambitious people have faced a similar situation. It sounds like you are not being considered for the job. If not, it may
not be appropriate to start campaigning for the position at
this late time. After all, the hiring authority has decided on
other candidates.

The best approach may be to ask for a meeting with a member of the Board to express your interest in the
job and to find out what improvements you can make
to insure that you are considered for future promotions.

If you do this before the position is filled, who knows, they may add you to the list of candidates. If you are
truly interested in the position, it can only help to
express your desires to the people who make the
decisions.

Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Originally posted by alwin

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