5 reasons your organization should be more transparent about promotions.

The phrase “climbing the corporate ladder” gets thrown around a lot, but what it actually means can vary greatly across organizations and industries. Anyone in human resources knows merit, seniority, budgets, and availability of positions can all affect an employee’s chances of landing a promotion, but rarely is this information shared with the employees it affects.

People are understandably concerned about their chances of advancing in their careers, and the growing popularity of websites like Glassdoor.ca and TheMuse.com underscores the value of this data. However, your employees shouldn’t have to go to a third-party website to find out whether or not they can expect a promotion next quarter. Your organization should willingly and gladly publicize this information both internally and externally. Here’s why:

1. Transparency breeds trust. It’s not enough to tell people to work hard; you should explicitly outline what sort of things your HR team looks for when considering someone for a promotion. Having this explained in black and white will demonstrate to your employees that the decision is neither random nor biased.
2. Promotions keep people motivated. A promotion is a reward, and rewards are highly motivating. If your employees understand how they can earn promotions, they’ll be much more inclined to follow the necessary steps to achieve them. It’s also a great way to encourage your staff to work more efficiently and have sustained productivity.
3. People want to grow. Imagine you had to do your current job for the rest of your life. Sure, that would be fine for a few people, but chances are the majority of your employees hope for something more in the long run. They can’t be expected to grow without a tangible roadmap, though. A thorough promotions policy can anchor their professional goals and help them build a workable plan.
4. Discussing promotions facilitates the hiring process. If a prospective hire is serious about your job posting, they’ll be curious about opportunities to advance within your organization or industry. Being open about how you promote employees will both attract strong candidates and help you identify applicants who are truly interested in professional development.
5. It’s a sign of generosity and caring. Being forthcoming with information is a great way for an organization to improve its reputation, especially if doing so requires that it supports its employees. An eagerness to promote staff shows an organization sincerely cares about their career growth and genuinely wants to help them succeed.

We can help your staff excel

All this being said, your employees may not be able to work towards a promotion if they’re distracted by important issues in their lives. A sudden health scare, difficulty parenting a rebellious teen, or the pressure of caring for an aging parent can all weigh down on your staff and impede their ability to focus at work. You can support them by providing access to the LifeSpeak library, a collection of over 1,500 expert-led videos, podcasts, and tip sheets designed to help employees tackle these complex problems. To learn more, book a demo with us today.

Originally published at LifeSpeak.