Are You Promotable?

I've seen many a supervisor or management person confused because they never seem to get promoted. Sometimes they can't see their own actions in the same light as upper management. Some things you are "expected" to know and no one will point it out to you. Other reasons are things that are sensitive to discuss or make the boss uncomfortable to discuss. Sometimes, these things have been discussed but it wasn't believed or there is no significant change. If you haven't been promoted, even though you feel you have worked hard and long enough to deserve promotion, I'll offer you some reasons I've seen during my career. You may not agree, you may not feel they are fair, you may think they are funny, you may even get angry but they are very real promotion killers.

Are you personally clean and groomed? Every day? All day? All of you?
Are you sarcastic? With replies, humor, observations?
Do you have bad breath? Are your teeth in good repair and clean?
Are you known as a jokester? Are you taken seriously?
Do you always ask for extra help/explanations long after you should be independent?
Do you spend too much time talking with others about non work related things?
Do you have good manners - to everyone? Do you know what good manners are?
Are your table manners good?
Are you prompt?
Do you treat the lowest employee as well as the highest?
Do you tell off color or racial/gender/ethnic jokes and stories?
Do you smoke?
Do you suck up?
Are you the last to arrive at work and first to leave?
Are you the first to arrive at socials and the last to leave?
Do you drink at company social activities? Do you know when you have had enough?
Are you very competitive? About everything?
Are you a snob?
Are depression or emotional problems making your behavior unpredictable?
Do you gamble to the point it affects your personal finances?
Do you live higher than your income? Are you heavily in debt?
Is your spouse or parent allowed to overly influence your work?
Do you only participate in something after deciding "what's in it for me"?
Are you constantly talking about yourself, your possessions, life, & experiences?
Do you get into other people's space when talking?
Are you a gossip?
Are you always chewing gum, toothpicks, pencils, etc.?
When you have been promoted in the past, have you gloated over others?
Do you spend a lot of time doing documentation of your day, actions, feelings?
Do you have so much self doubt you can't make decisions?
Do you turn every conversation into a preaching/witnessing session?
Do you try to force your beliefs on others because you know you are right?
Are you so shy no one ever hears or sees you?
Do you flirt, ogle, stare, or come-on to anyone at work?
Are you having a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a co-worker?
Do you wear after shave or perfume? Do you know if it is too strong or offends?
Do you routinely have flatulence?

I have found very few people who do the above realize they are doing something that affects their promotability. I have also found very few, even when told, will ever admit they actually do have an issue and it is affecting their promotability. Some are even proud of these habits. Denial is rampant among the non promotable. If someone (a boss, a friend, a family member) takes the hard step of explaining you have one of the above issues, (or maybe another) realize it is important enough to recognize, work on it, and overcome.

It is easier to overcome one of the above if you don't take it as personal criticism but instruction in another work related job duty. No one comes into the work place knowing and doing everything perfect. It is always a work in progress. The Book of Proverbs has many many examples of when and how to work some of the above. The "moral, ethical and spiritual precepts" and the "comparisons, warnings, and instructions" are packed full of useful, Biblical and practical advice for your work place. If you find it hard to know what you are doing wrong, and can find no one to explain, go to your best advisor: Jesus Christ. Pray for guidance, an open heart, and the power to learn. If you feel that uncomfortable feeling, little itch of a conscious, when you read anything above ~ maybe you are being told you need to spend time thinking about some changes. I'll take many of these individually in the future to help explain and offer possible solutions.

Proverbs 24:14 "so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off."

(One little side note: You may be totally promotable but be at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and for the wrong reason. Another benefit of praying will be an understanding of where the problem lays.)