Giving Everyone a Promotion

Greetings.  June is a month for moving forward.  A month of "graduations" from high school and college, "promotions" from middle school on to high school, and "moving up" ceremonies to mark the transition from elementary school to middle school.  It's also a time for the final concerts of the school year, music recitals that bear witness to another year of our artistic progress, and the end of the season for many sports teams.  A time to acknowledge and appreciate growth and progress, and to honor our arrival at another important stage on the journey that is life.  All made possible by our own hard work and the encouragement and support of our family and friends.  And culminating with their applause, smiles, tears of joy, and warm embraces.

June is also the beginning of a new stage.  A time to dream of future promise and potential.  And while these dreams are on hold temporarily by summer and the chance to recharge our batteries, in a few short months we'll be back at it–taking on new challenges, learning new skills, and continuing to find our way.  Ready to head toward our next "promotion." 

In companies and organizations the road to promotion isn't quite so common, shared, or perfect.  Sure some people get promoted, but they are typically the ones on the fast track, the ones who have paid their dues, or the ones who have "sucked up" (to use a French term) to the powers that be.  After all, promotion is not for everyone.

But why shouldn't it be?

Why shouldn't we promote everyone regularly?  To new roles and responsibilities. To new chances to find their unique groove.  To new opportunities to be energized and more fully engaged.  To new situations with new people that might just unlock their hidden passion and genius.  All accompanied by the applause, smiles, tears of joy, and warm embraces of family and friends.

We generally believe that promotion is a reward for a job well done.  But what if we viewed it as an investment in a job to be done well?  Maybe the granting of a prize before it is due, or the simple demonstration of our belief in what is possible, is the real key to unlocking the genius, innovation, and growth in everyone.

We win in business and in life when we see the upside in everyone. And when we see promotion as the natural order of things–not as a sacred prize held out to only a few.

Cheers!