How do you know it is time to promote an employee? Identifying internal candidates who should be promoted is not a walk in the park. Apart from using tools such as performance appraisals and reviews, it is also important to be on the lookout for character traits that distinguish a candidate from the pack. Some organizations who have embraced Talent Succession planning often compile a list of individuals who would take up the vacant roles when they arise. Below is a guideline that can help you identify employees within your organization who are ready for promotion:
- They have a good work ethic
A good work ethic is characterized by good prioritization skills, punctuality, consistency and commitment to continuous improvement. An employee who is always rushing to beat the deadline is a poor manager of his or her time and lacks the ability to prioritize. An employee who burns the midnight oil in the office is not necessarily the most productive employee. Research is increasingly pointing towards the need for productivity at work instead of long working hours. Sweden led the way a few years ago with an experiment on the effect of a 6-hour working week.
Toyota services in Gothenburg switched to a six-hour working week about 13 years ago and reported that the employees were happier and more productive as a result of this shift. Your organization may not be in a position to make the working day shorter but it should encourage a culture of balance. Workers should work within reasonable working hours and be rewarded for respecting the limits of the working day and meeting their targets within those limits.
- They are oriented towards solutions to problems within the organization.
It is often stated that there are two types of people in the world: those who create problems and those who solve problems. An employee who works towards solving problems regardless of their position should be given an opportunity to exercise his or her problem-solving abilities. One’s ability to solve problems is often evidenced by creative thinking, eagerness to learn and implement new ideas and the ability to ask the right questions. Your organization should foster an environment in which employees can thrive as they solve day to day problems that are being encountered by the organization. A valuable employee does not always have the right answers to problems but he or she is willing to consider the possibilities and explore them.
- They are respected by their co-workers
An employee who is ready for a promotion easily earns the trust and the respect of co-workers through their diligence, ability to work with others and the support that they offer to others in the process of working with them. An employee who has already earned the respect of his or her co-workers will thrive when he or she is given more responsibilities since he or she will lead others towards the attainment of organizational goals. In addition to this, he or she will foster a culture of collaboration thereby minimizing the effect of toxic competition within the team.
- They take responsibility
Progress, not perfection is one of the key elements you should consider before promoting an employee. An employee who is ready for a promotion takes responsibility for his/her actions at work and has a clear sense of direction for the progression of his/her career. In every organization, decisions are made concerning the day to day running of the organization. An employee who is ready for a promotion makes decisions based on the company’s vision and goals. They have the company’s best interests at heart. Whenever such an employee makes a mistake, he/she does not shut down. They own up, learn from it and moves forward.
- They ask for feedback and take it well
There are very few employees who ask for feedback and actually consider it. If a member of your team is eager to get feedback and consider it, take note of their ability to listen to others. An employee who is keen on their current performance level, what they need to improve and what they need to do in a different way is not only capable of taking initiative but is also keen on growing beyond their current role.
- They seek opportunities to share knowledge
An employee who is keen on being promoted is not afraid of sharing knowledge with his or her colleagues. Such an employee will be enthusiastic about training new employees in addition to sharing the knowledge they have acquired in some aspects of the job with their team members. Sharing knowledge is an indication that the employee cares about the growth of others as well as his. Such employees also actively seek out opportunities to gain knowledge that will help them improve in their areas of weakness. They seek out resources from other departments and try out new ideas.
At Crystal Recruitment, we make it our business to find the right talent for your company as we are a leading Recruitment Agency in Kenya. Talk to us today and let us help you find the right talent. We endeavor to work with candidates who have such qualities.