3 Steps to Getting Promoted While Working in a Hybrid Environment

Getting promoted can take a frustratingly long time for many women. Add in remote and hybrid working and the idea that out of sight is out of luck, you might start to worry you will never get promoted again.

If you’re working in a hybrid environment, you may need to step up your efforts to get noticed by management and make your resume stand out. Here are three ways to improve your chance of getting promoted while working in this new normal.

1) Don't be afraid to take initiative
If you want to get promoted, you should be proactive about it. Let your manager know that you want to be considered for the position. You should also set up recurring meetings to talk about where you're at and what your goals are.

And don't be afraid to toot your horn, it's OK to tell other employees about your accomplishments with what's called a 'humble bragg'. You can do this by giving presentations, pitching ideas during meeting times or telling stories of work you've completed that include a great lesson learned and a successful outcome.

Don’t forget to ask others how they feel about your work, especially when it comes to challenges overcome and work challenges ahead of you. By understanding what people see in you, you’ll be able to change the way they view your skillset.

2) Build your network

One of the most important actions for getting promoted in a hybrid world is networking. You can't rely on just your one direct manager to help you get promoted, so you need to build up your network of people who will advocate for you and recommend you for promotions, or at the very least, let you know of jobs coming up.

These relationships are not a one way street however, you need to be giving as much, if not more than, you are getting. A little bit of time now could mean a lot later. Keep an eye on what is going on around you in your company, industry and even outside it. Keep learning about new trends, technologies and best practices that could benefit you both personally and professionally and share these with your network.

Don't just stop at networking with your peers. Reach out and make connections with senior leaders as well. Go to events that interest you outside of work to expand your knowledge base and create contacts too!

3) Add Value

One of the key steps to getting promoted while working in a hybrid environment is aligning your strategy. This means understanding the company's goals and coming up with ways you can help achieve those goals.

You should also be aware of what other departments are doing, so that you can make sure your work aligns with their efforts. For example, if one department is focusing on customer experience then it would help if you were taking care of the product side of things.

Finally, ask for feedback from managers and colleagues about what they think you need to do next. If you have an idea of where you want to go, but aren't quite sure how to get there, this will be a helpful way for them to point out some possibilities. It also demonstrates you are serious about doing what it takes to get promoted.

Working in a hybrid or remote environment does add another layer of complexity to getting promoted, however it doesn't make it impossible. It's time to get more intentional with your promotion strategy
Don't be afraid to take the initiative and have the conversations with your boss, build your network and add value - and you'll find opportunities opening up for you.