I have not been promoted in 10+ years. My colleagues and managers think I am doing a good job but clearly this is not being reflected in my track. How should I approach this? I am a bit anxious to move to a new career/company at this point in my career.

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There are a lot of factors we don't know... Have you been seeking out additional responsibility and volunteering for projects? Are you actively developing opportunities or expecting a promotion based on performance and tenure? If you have been doing all of these things and you're current leadership can't give you an explanation for suggestions for career progression it sounds like it would be time to find another opportunity.

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It seems that your managers are not managing you very well and should be thinking about what is next for themselves. One way they can move up is if someone can step in a fill their shoes. So, either they don't think you can do their job, or they are concerned that they will lose their jobs to you, so they aren't delegating enough responsibility. This situation is something I have seen before. It is narrow-minded and short-sighted, and they might be stuck in similar situations with their leadership. Either way, I think your time with this company has come to an end.

In my experience, making a job change is very exciting. It sounds like you have the stability in your current role to take your time to find the perfect position that fits you best.

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Often we get stuck because we're good at what we're doing, not despite it. Think about what you want to do, figure out the gaps between where you are, and where that is, and you've got a basic plan right in front of you. The only things left are to figure out how to communicate your dissatisfaction within your political arena (not easy), and start making moves.

In terms of the political maneuvering, there's two things to focus on, and in turn, two books you might want to read (or three):
1. Political Savvy, Joel DeLuca
2. Managing Up, a series of articles on HBR, here: https://hbr.org/topic/managing-up
3. Difficult Conversations, Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen

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If there is clear growth available, and particularly if your job family aligns with what is valued by your company, have you asked for it?

Any promotion is a change in what we do, so making it known that change is what you want is a helpful step.

Plenty of folks will talk about good reasons to take your skills to the market, and I would agree, but either way, get the promotion you want!

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If you've been doing a good job for ten years but haven't been promoted, you should look for a similar position at another company.

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I would suggest, given that we don’t have the full picture of your work environment, that you speak to your management about what is required to move up in your organization. Pick a position you are interested in and ask a direct question of “what does it take to be in this role”? If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your direct manager, try talking with another manager that is responsible for those roles you may be interested in and ask the same question. You cannot effectively move up if you don’t know the path or what gaps you may have that are preventing you from doing so. I would also offer that this conversation also directly signals to management your desire to advance in your career.

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I've heard this time and time again particularly from those in very large enterprises. What many failed to recognize is there is such a thing as being too good at their jobs. They are the "go to people"who always deliver, can always be relied upon to take on the difficult or challenging jobs. And unfortunately they get pigeonholed. It's often their mangers who unwittingly stand in their way anytime they might be considered for promotion. They simply don't want to lose those upon whom they rely. It's a compliment, but can be very frustrating for the employee.

Moving companies or industries is not the only solution though. If you like the company and people try the below. If not it may be time to go.

Invest time in becoming more visible to those outside your immediate circle and start cultivating relationships with those in more senior positions.

Partipate in the trade association or industry groups to build your brand. Publish an article on a relevant topic that shows thought leadership and innovation. Expose professional skills people don't know you have or see in the day to day of your job. The idea is to break out of the mold by building on a successful track record in positive but unrexpected ways and keep doing it over the next 6- 12 months. Changing perception will change reality.

You may find that promotion comes during the course or that you can create a new position for yourself with the support of some new friends that have the means to help you get there.

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I would ask your manager to work with you on the roadmap (including specific objectives and timelines) to your promotion. In the absence of that, the decision then becomes yours as to the next move (leave or stay).

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Suppose you think that you deserve a promotion you need to ask for it. Easiest is to bring that up during your review. If your manager is happy with your performance and is prising you, you can ask what position he/she sees you growing to. What do you need to do to achieve the promotion? You can discuss specific tasks, goals and timelines you need to achieve. If the manager is not prepared to discuss the promotion in detail, schedule a meeting in 1-2 weeks.

Depending on how the discussion goes, you can mention why you believe you deserve a promotion (projects completed, achievements etc.), how your job scope will change (what new responsibilities you will take, it does not hurt to point out what would be the organization/manager gains in you being promoted aside from making you happy), who will replace you in the current position, how the transition will look like.

If you don't want to wait for the review, you can schedule a meeting with your manager sooner, where you will discuss your career path.

You need to be mentally prepared for a negative response and think about your next steps if that happens. Would you stay, and if so, will you have the same motivation that indirectly will influence your performance, or would you start looking around?

It does not matter how long you have been in an organization, if you are not appreciated and valued... its time to move on.

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I would suggest you try to understand why is that the case, what are the skills that are holding you back. Now, a colleague here said “ask for it” and that is a very good point, you need to promote yourself first, before getting promoted. Imho.

I have not been promoted in 10+ years. My colleagues and managers think I am doing a good job but clearly this is not being reflected in my track. How should I approach this? I am a bit anxious to move to a new career/company at this point in my career.

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