Gambling On Getting a Promotion?
Getting a promotion, a new job, or somehow advancing your career is something that many people wish to achieve. Are you gambling with your future?
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Is it your exercise program, getting your children off to school, or your excitement to get to your job and start your day?
Certainly there are many possible reasons, and sometimes the drudgery of the day-in day-out grind at your job can take its toll on anyone. However, there are many people who are very stimulated by their work and are eager to get to it, they can’t wait to get started, and they really want to make things happen.
Their ultimate wish is to move up the ladder, to perhaps increase their salary and continue to advance their career.
In some cases people are waiting on luck or fate to step in. Sure they work hard and put in their time, but they might believe that without a stroke of luck or the sudden unexpected exit of their boss they are stuck.
Others believe that perhaps it just isn’t the right timing. You haven’t paid enough dues or it just isn’t your turn right now.
What often follows this kind of thinking is that the more time that goes by, the more times you’ve been overlooked for a promotion, or the harder you work will mean that you’re increasing the probability for a big payout. This idea of luck is what is sometimes known as the “gamblers fallacy.”
Just like in gambling the odds of your promotion or new job opportunity developing because you have been passed over numerous times and as such you are now due, well, don’t hold your breath. And the more you work, the harder you work, doesn’t necessarily mean your chances will increase.
Leave Nothing To Chance
Gambling might occasionally pay off big for some people, but you would be smart to not leave your career to chance.
If you are serious about striving for a promotion or a new job here are a few things that might help.
- Increase your visibility. I’m convinced that there are plenty of very good people in the workforce who simply go unnoticed. One of the best ways to increase your chances for a better job is to increase your visibility (tips).
- Stop waiting. If you’re waiting, stop. You’re going to have to be proactive in your approach. When you don’t have an opportunity, create one. No luck? Create your own.
- Build your network. People recommend other people. Sometimes because they are impressed and other times because you’ve mentioned that you are open for new opportunities. Your network is one of the best ways to increase your luck.
Certainly the gamblers fallacy works effectively in our mind, the idea that if we just keep working really hard there will be a big payoff, but statistically not so much.
You’ll need to work hard and smart. You’ll also need to be proactive in your approach.
Perhaps the only luck you can count on is the luck that you create.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
