Six things you can do if your boss is blocking your career growth
Does it feel like your career is going nowhere… and your boss isn’t helping? Here are six things you can do.
Feeling like you’re stuck in a dead-end job can be extremely frustrating, especially when you think your boss is the reason for the lack of progression. You’re putting in the effort and delivering results, going above and beyond, but there never seems to be any opportunities for advancement.
You’re not alone – according to Google trend data, searches for “dead end job” have risen by 120% in the last month. Zoe Grant, career expert and HR business partner at Click Consult, reveals what to do if your boss is suppressing your career progression – and how to know when it’s time to move on.
1) Gather the facts
Don’t rely on your memory alone when you speak to your boss – gather tangible evidence of your contributions to make sure you leave nothing out. Put together a portfolio of projects you’ve led, performance reviews, sales figures, client feedback, and even emails where your boss has acknowledged your successes and achievements.
It’s important that you can paint a clear and undeniable picture of everything you bring to the table, to strengthen your position when asking, yet again, for a well-deserved promotion.
2) Have an honest (but strategic) chat
Instead of accusing them of holding you back, try to understand why; there might be a reason for their hesitation. Ask how you can achieve your goals, by working together. Perhaps there are specific skills or qualifications they feel you’re lacking, and need additional training in order to be considered for progression, or they might simply think that you’re not ready to take on the extra responsibility.
3) Seek out allies and advocates
Even if your boss doesn’t think you’re ready to move up, there might be other people in the company that do. Look for allies who recognise and appreciate your talent and contributions, and can advocate for you. Broadening your network with mentors that you admire can provide valuable guidance and can potentially open doors to new opportunities.
4) Keep it positive
It can be tempting to vent to your new allies and mentors about how you feel your boss is career-blocking you, but keep the negativity to yourself. Bad-mouthing your boss reflects poorly on you and can damage your professional reputation – and you never know if it will get back to your boss and cause more problems!
Keep it positive and keep the conversations focused on your development and progression, rather than bitterness about your current situation.
5) Consider lateral moves if vertical isn’t an option
When moving up isn’t an option, consider moving sideways. Lateral moves – shifting to a different role at the same level – can help you gain experience in different areas of the company, making you more versatile and in turn, more valuable.
It can give you a new perspective and allow you to understand the business better, and increase your visibility; raising your profile within the company and show your adaptability and potential for leadership.
6) Move on
Unfortunately, after all your efforts to get yourself seen as promotion material, your boss might still be blocking your path. If your current company can’t or won’t, offer you the opportunities for growth and progression that you deserve, it might be time to explore something new, and fire off a resignation letter.
No matter how much you love your job, a fresh start at a new company can not only offer higher positions, but also more support to continue to grow, and climb even higher than you’d ever be able to if you stay in your current role.
