Tools to lever your way out of that rut

Dave, stuck in a rut and pigeonholed at work, didn't know where to turn. Five years ago he was promoted to an interesting and challenging role but now has the job well and truly under his belt.

While some of his colleagues are happy to plod along doing the same predictable thing every day, Dave says he's ready to move onwards and upwards and wants a more responsibility. The trouble is that his boss isn't interested.

"Every time I apply for another position within the firm - some of them sideways moves - I am told I am doing too good a job and the company can't release me from my present position," Dave says.

It seems that Dave has been pigeonholed as a person who excels at a particular job and his firm won't risk him failing in a different position.

"I'm like an actor who has been typecast and nothing I do seems to break the perception that I'm only good at one thing," Dave says. "I'm like movie action hero Arnie Schwarzenegger, but without the muscles - or the money."

Career coach Robin Nitschke says it's a more common situation than many of us mighty think.

"Sometimes managers just do not realise that one of their staff is bursting to move out of their job and into something different. In this scenario a formal one-on-one chat may start the ball rolling - you have to sell yourself while at the same time understanding that length of service does not automatically lead to promotion - it's performance that counts."

Nitschke recommends that people talk to their supervisor, point out that they have been passed over for promotion, and ask what it is they need to do to get ahead."

Josh Comrie, leadership coach and a director of coaching and recruitment at Potentia, says New Zealand organisations tend to trap people in roles that often forces them to get a job elsewhere.

"Years later they often return to their old firm at a much higher level," Comrie says.

He recommends that people wanting to stay within their company but change roles should align themselves with the job they want to do and build relationships with people in that department - particularly with the team leader or manager. Shmooze.

"Decide what success looks like in the role you want and find out the key measurements or performance indicators. Look beyond the job description.

Those trapped in a particular position for some time should also start listing on paper their achievements during their time in the job - such as targets met or exceeded, team achievements, and increased responsibility - and outline how the role has developed over the years.

Such a person should look at their successes and then run through them with the manager, who can then understand what has been achieved.

This is even more important if the manager is relatively new and doesn't fully appreciate the length of time that person has been in the job.

People being told they are too valuable in their present role to be moved on is common, Comrie says. But he has a solution.

"Find someone who can take over your job, coach them and get them up to speed so they can take over, thus freeing you up to move forwards," he says.

"Do the job your boss should be doing and say, 'I know someone who could easily step into this role'.

"Go to market, and offer to make it a seamless transition."

A prime candidate could be the person who covers for you during your holidays.

Comrie says some managers don't take requests for a change seriously. Some people are patted on the head and told that perhaps in 12 months something may be available. One of Comrie's anecdotes is about a colleague who wasn't prepared to wait a year or more for a promised promotion and so started looking to leave the firm.

"He told his manager to expect calls from people seeking references as he had decided to move on rather than wait," Comrie says. "Suddenly the 12-month plan was brought forward to 10 days and his boss offered him two jobs. He took one and his replacement was found."

HOW TO BEAT THE JOB TRAP

 

* Look at the successes you've had in your present job and promote them

* Make it as easy as possible for your manager to move you out of your role into the new one

* Don't be afraid of employing creative tactics to move things along

* Network across your company

* Take your knowledge and find ways to leverage and connect it to the knowledge you want

* Take every experience as a learning opportunity

* Be proactive and seek out opportunities in your present job