Are you ready for that promotion? - Careers - Column

Physician Executive, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Arthur Lazarus

IN THIS ARTICLE ...

Explore 10 steps you can take to help improve your chances for a promotion.

The only promotion 1 ever received was in academic rank at my medical school alma mater. Staying in acadenfia, however, didn't supercharge my career. I advanced my career by changing jobs every few years, eventually achieving vice president of a managed care organization.

The concept of staying with one employer (organization) for the long haul and seeking promotion from within never really held much promise for me, perhaps because opportunities for promotion were limited and I was impatient. Another possibility is that I didn't signal my intentions to the appropriate decision makers, or if I did, I wasn't deemed ready for a promotion.

Regardless of the reason, I've learned that promotions must be planned. Orlando Ceaser, an experienced pharmaceutical sales director, observed, "The decision to pursue a promotion should not be a random, spontaneous example of seizing the moment. Nor should it be done as a herd, in which jobs are sought because everyone is applying for them. Instead, decisions to seek advancement should be the logical result of a well-executed career development strategy." (1)

Bouncing from job to job in search of higher status and pay is hardly an example of good planning. Yet I continue to see this happen, especially in younger physician executives, and it even plagued my own career at times. The need to attain a state of promotional readiness and carefully plan your next move cannot bc overstated.

Career tracks for physician executives are not as fully developed as they are for other types of executives. And if you're gunning for CEO, remember, although there has been a trend for physician executives to be appointed CEOs of hospitals, physician CEOs are very much in the minority. (2)

10 tips to remember

When seeking a job promotion, here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. Ask yourself if there's room at the inn.

Career tracks for physician executives barely exist in some organizations. There may on]y be one spot--medical director, or the equivalent--and nowhere to go from there but down and out.

If you avoid dead-end positions like those you won't have to change jobs to be promoted. Menlo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half Finance & Accounting[R] advises that, in addition to compensation, company stability and career advancement opportunities are what to look for in a job. (3)

The best strategy for promotion is to work in an organization or industry with numerous, well-defined pathways of increasing responsibility designed for physicians. The pharmaceutical industry is a great example where only physicians can qualify for certain positions that require medical training and management know-how.

By promoting physicians from director to senior director to vice president and higher--while also creating leadership roles within any given level such as team leader and group leader--opportunities for advancement are abundant.

2. Don't wait for opportunity to knock.

A passive posture and wishful thinking won't result in a promotion. You must telegraph your intentions to those with hiring authority. This could be your boss, someone in human resources or a key individual in another department.

Specifically discuss your goals with that person and let him or her know that you're primed for a promotion. This is not the time to be bashful or secretive. Be confident and don't worry about the potential embarrassment caused by being passed over for the job.

The strength of your conviction alone will signify that you are a rising star. And if you're turned down, you may receive valuable feedback from those who inter view you. Turn this feedback into developmental homework.

3. Do your current job extraordinarily well.

It is naive to think you can be promoted without demonstrating excellence in your current role. The mistake I've seen some physician executives make, and one I've made myself, is believing you can be promoted into a position that is a better match for your abilities even though you may have only been an average performer in your current job.

It doesn't matter that your present job may be boring or beneath you, or that your current work cannot sustain your full attention. You still need to excel in order to be promoted. Your track record and reputation pave the way for future opportunities. Poor work ethic can destroy any chance of being promoted.

4. Tenure counts.

The amount of time employed in your current role may count as much as your performance. This is especially true in large organizations, where it may take several years to develop relationships with key internal stakeholders and understand how to navigate the system.

Make sure you become acquainted with executives who hold key business roles in finance, sales and marketing, including those based in the field. Understand their issues and business perspective and ask how you can support their goals. Also ask your boss to create opportunities for you to interact with those stakeholders and work on mutual projects.