How to prepare for a promotion conversation

In a few weeks the Christmas party invitations will start landing in your inbox, the out of office messages will start appearing and people will start saying “let’s pick this up in the new year”. On a project, that can be a blessing, but in your career it can be frustrating.

Most people enter the new year with a renewed sense of purpose & optimism. But unless you actually do some preparation now, this can often fall flat on its face quite quickly. And before you know it January becomes March, which becomes June before you’ve actually gotten round to doing what you meant to do at the start of the year.

Last month I wrote about Accidental Project Managers: the people doing 3 jobs, holding the project together & somehow missing out when the title, the pay rise or the promotion comes round. If you tried the exercise, you'll have a list of the work nobody saw & the proper names for it. That's a brilliant start. But on its own, it won't get you the title.

Know your value

I've worked with plenty of capable people who knew exactly what they were contributing, had the evidence to prove it & still walked out of their review with a pat on the back, a few vague promises & the same job title. So what's missing? Is it more experience? Another certificate? More assertiveness?

In my experience, it usually comes down to 3 things.

1. 1The authority gap.Accidental Project Managers do the work of a Project Manager without being given the authority that should come with the role. So they borrow it. They ask permission instead of making the decision, they soften the message to the consultant who's 2 weeks late & they apologise for chasing the client. It’s not intentional, but every one of those moments send the message that you're helping, not leading.
2. 2The conversation nobody has.Most Accidental Project Managers are waiting to be noticed. They assume that if they keep delivering, someone will eventually notice & reward their hard work. But frustratingly, this rarely happens. Being able to articulate your value, get strategic about what you want from your career & then ask for that is critical if you don’t want to be overlooked for years.
3. 3Doing it alone.Most of us learnt Project Management on the job…by doing your best, watching, guessing (& sometimes getting it wrong!) The processes are often easy enough, especially now with the help of AI. But the people side is the difficult part…and the most important bit: how to influence without authority, how to say no to a director twice your age, how to stay calm when you have to tell the Client the programme is a month behind.

Use the next 8 weeks

Before you down tools for Christmas, do 3 things:

1. 1Book a conversation now.Put 30 minutes in your manager's diary in January (or even better December!) & call it something like "My role & development in 2027". Booking it in now means you have time to think, plan & come up with an action plan.
2. 2Decide what you're asking for.A title, a new project, training, a pay review…decide what actually matters to you. Because everyone is different & even the best managers can’t guess what you want out of your career. So spend some time thinking about what would actually make a difference to you & write it down
3. 3Bring your evidence.This is where last month's exercise pays off. Choose your 3 strong examples of where you have already demonstrated why you deserve your ask. Be ready to say what you did, what difference each one made & why that means you deserve what you are asking for.

Where I can help

This is where my Accidental Project Manager Programme comes in. It's 8 weeks long, with just 5 people in each cohort, & built for people who are already doing the job but haven't been given the title, the language or the confidence to own it yet. We spend our time on the people side of Project Management: influence, managing up, difficult conversations & protecting your own energy, so you aren't burning out while you prove yourself. And we build towards the conversation you've been putting off to get the recognition your deserve

The next cohort starts in January. You’ll be starting your New Year with someone who can keep you accountable, fill in any knowledge gaps & build confidence to be claim your ask & own the Project Manager job title.