How to Get Promoted When You Work Remotely
How to Get Promoted When You Work Remotely
-Philip VanDusen
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Hey, welcome back. Let me ask you a question. You want to get promoted, right? Get a better job title, make more money. Today we're gonna be diving into a burning topic, how to get promoted as a remote employee and be recognized for your work when you're not physically in the same space as your colleagues or your manager.
Working remotely has so many benefits, but let's get real. It also comes with some real challenges that a lot of people are just starting to realize. One of the biggest ones is making sure your work doesn't go unnoticed. Think about it. When you're in an office, there's so many organic opportunities to build visibility.
You're bumping into people in the hallway and sharing ideas and impromptu conversations, and you're just generally being seen. But when you're remote, you have to approach visibility and career growth really intentionally. And that's what we're gonna break down today. I'm gonna give you some actionable strategies that are gonna make sure you stand out and move up even from your home office or your favorite coffee shop.
So let's jump in. First up, let's talk about visibility. When you work remotely, you can't rely on others noticing your work just because they see you staying late at your desk or hear about your project in passing, you have to make a concerted effort to communicate what you're working on and the impact that it's having.
One way to do this is by proactively sharing your win. For example, you can send out a weekly update to your manager or your team summarizing the key things that you've accomplished. Progress on ongoing projects or any challenges you're tracking. It's not about bragging, it's about making sure your contributions are on the radar of the people that matter.
Another great tactic is to engage in team meetings, and when I say engage, I don't mean just showing up and nodding along. You have to turn your camera on. You have to be active in the conversation and share your ideas and ask thoughtful questions. Even small contributions can leave a lasting impression.
Also, don't forget to document your achievements. You want to keep a running list of your key contributions and your metrics, like how your work has impacted efficiency or contributed to revenue, or benefited some other functional area of the business because that list and those items are gonna be gold when it comes to your performance.
Or advocating for a promotion. Now let's talk about building relationships, which can feel tricky when you're not physically in an office. The first relationship you want to focus on though is definitely with your manager schedule, regular check-ins to discuss your progress, your goals, any challenges you're facing.
Those conversations aren't just about status updates. They're opportunities to build alignment and to build trust. You're showing your manager that you're proactive and invested in your career growth. And I know this sounds like a ya duh, but try to build a level of friendship with them too. Be curious about their life.
Ask questions managers, promote people they like, not ones that are aloof or too cool for school, but you wanna make sure not to stop with your manager. Networking across a broader area of your company is just as important. You wanna make an effort to connect with colleagues in other departments, especially if their work intersects with yours.
You want to attend virtual coffees or chats or happy hours or team building events, even the ones that feel awkward because they're worth it. Building those cross-functional relationships can open doors that you didn't even know existed.
The next point is really big, finding a mentor or a sponsor. These are people who can advocate for you when you're not in the room or the virtual room, and offer guidance based on their own experiences.
If you're looking for personalized guidance, I also offer one-on-one coaching for creative Pros, and these sessions are really designed to dig deep into your unique goals and your challenges in your job about getting promoted. Or making more money, giving you a tailored roadmap to help you advance in your career.
Sometimes all it takes is an outside perspective to see opportunities that might be right in front of you, and I'm here to help you with that, just go to philip van deusen.com/one on one.
Another key to getting promoted as a remote employee is aligning your work with business goals.
This is all about understanding what matters most to leadership and making sure your contributions directly tie to their priorities. For example, if the company's focusing on improving customer retention, think about how your role can support that goal and make it a point to communicate. That alignment.
When you position yourself as someone who's not just doing their job, but who's actively contributing to the company's success and strategy, you're making yourself indispensable. And let me tell you, a lot of people don't do this. So if you do it, you're gonna stand out. Okay. So while we're on the topic of company success, let's talk about taking on high visibility projects.
You want to volunteer for initiatives? That are gonna put you in front of higher levels of leadership or allow you to collaborate with other teams because this is a great way to showcase your skills and also demonstrate your willingness to step up and take on challenges. Here's a factoid that's gonna drive this home in a big way.
Multiple studies have shown. 80% of your promotability is determined by your exposure to upper management. Now, that is a shocking stat. It's not about how well you do your job, 80% of your chances of being promoted, rest on upper management, seeing you do your job. So take any opportunity to be seen by higher ups, even if it means taking on a project that's outside of the normal scope of what you see as being your job, or is somehow a little bit of.
Extra work for you. Do it because it can pay off big if you do. Okay, now let's discuss personal branding. Yes. Even as an employee, you have a personal brand and it's worth cultivating. One way to do this is by sharing your expertise on internal platforms. For example, you could write a guide or. Article that's relevant to your area of expertise and share it with your team or your department.
Not only does this position you as a go-to person in your field or your company, but also shows initiative and thought leadership. Now, reliability is also a huge part of your personal brand when you consistently meet deadlines. Follow through on commitments and deliver high quality work. You're building a reputation as someone that people can count on, and that kind of reputation goes a long way when it comes to career advancement.
Now, if you're comfortable with it, you can also build external visibility. For example, you might share case studies or insights of your work on linked. Of course, you have to be mindful of confidentiality and company policies, but showcasing your expertise externally can also build credibility both outside and inside your company.
Okay. Advocating for yourself is another essential piece of this puzzle. This can feel really uncomfortable for a lot of people, but it's really important. You can't assume that your manager or your leadership knows all about the great work that you're doing. You need to tell them. When you do, you wanna focus on the impact of your work.
For example, instead of saying, I completed this project, say I completed this project and it resulted in a 20% increase in efficiency, or, I completed this project and it really helped out this. Other team within the company. Data and metrics speak volumes. Another way to advocate for yourself is by sharing positive feedback that you received from other colleagues or clients or collaborators.
If someone sends you an email or a message praising your work, don't be afraid to forward it to your manager. It's not bragging. It's reinforcing the value that you're bringing to your team. Now finally, let's talk about growth. To get promoted, you gotta show that you're not only excelling in your current role, but that you're preparing for the next one.
One way to do this is by continuously upskilling, whether it's taking a course or attending a workshop, or obtaining a certification of some kind, investing in your own development. Shows initiative and a commitment to excellence. You should also look for opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills, even if you're not in a formal leadership role.
For example, you can mentor a newer team member or take the lead on a small project. Actions like that show that you're ready to take on more responsibility, which is exactly what managers look for when they're considering promotions. Now, a lot of people don't want to hear what I'm about to say next and think it's unfair, and to be honest, it kind of is.
But it's also totally true when it comes down to it. It's very, very common that you have to start doing the job of the level that you want to be promoted to before you're promoted to it, or before you actually start getting paid for that level of work. If you do this, your manager's gonna see that you can handle it, that you're more excited about it, and they're gonna feel a much higher level of confidence and interest in promoting you.
When the time and the opportunity comes. So to wrap this up, getting promoted as a remote employee is absolutely possible, but it does require a strategic approach. You need to be intentional about building visibility, strengthening relationships, aligning your work with business goals, developing your personal brand.
Advocating for yourself, making sure your work is visible to higher management and investing in your growth. It's a lot, but the payoff is gonna be worth it. And if you're feeling like you could use some additional support or guidance, remember that you don't have to navigate this alone. Whether that's joining a mastermind group, or working with a coach one-on-one, there are resources out there to help you accelerate your career growth.
So thanks for tuning in.
And with that, stay creative and I'll see when the next one.
