What About the Others?

This week has been all about promotions, so let’s finish it off with the same theme.

When you get a big promotion, congratulations are in order. You have risen above other folks at work and moved into a new leadership position. The big bosses see in you the potential to do more. You have more authority, more responsibility, and (hopefully) more income.

So…what about the folks you beat out for the promotion?

If you were competing against others in your organization, that means there are others who DIDN’T get the job and who are not as happy as you right now. Some may work in other functions or divisions, some may have been your peers and cubicle-mates, some may be good friends. All of them, though, are still employees, and they may feel resentful that you got the job rather than them, so you need to consider how you are going to deal with that.

The first thing, of course, is to be careful about making a big deal about it around them. While you certainly want to celebrate your promotion, you might do that with your non-work friends rather than having a big party with your colleagues. Popping champagne bottles and having a cork accidentally hit someone who also wanted that promotion is NOT a good way to start.

If they come to congratulate you, do not go on and on about the new car you will be buying with the extra salary, but at the same time, do not be overly humble. Saying something like, “thanks, it should have been you,” will make them wonder even more why it WASN’T them. It just sounds phony anyway…if you really think it should have been them, then how about turning down that promotion?

If any of these people are now working for you, try giving them a little more to do early on (if they have the ability, that is…if they didn’t get the promotion because they are idiots, rather than because you were simply the best, then be careful about letting them have too much more impact on the work). Ask for their input on projects. If they are doing good work, make sure the people above you know about it. If you help them perform in such a way that they will have a better shot at the next promotion, you are likely to win them over and have them work even harder with you, rather than trying to sabotage you out of a sense of revenge.

Promoting within the firm is a good thing, because it lets people see the opportunities open to them without having to leave the firm (and thus, leading you to lose their experience). The downside is that people who used to be co-workers can end up with a superior-subordinate relationship. When things work out well for you, pay attention to the people for whom it didn’t work out, and try early on to develop a new relationship with them that will make life easier for you and encourage a stronger effort on their part.