A Promotion Isn’t Promised Until It’s Offered

I once worked with a talented leader who had been told more than once, “You’re next in line for that promotion.” She trusted the promise, kept her head down, and assumed the role would come her way when the timing was right. Months later, a different leader was hired into the very position she thought was hers. She was devastated and felt blindsided. The truth is, a promotion is never guaranteed until the offer is in hand.

Why Promotions Aren’t Guaranteed

Organizations shift. Leaders change roles. Business needs evolve. The person who promised to advocate for you may not be in the room when the decision is made or may not even be at the company anymore. Banking your career growth on someone else’s promise leaves you vulnerable.

What You Can Control

What you can always control is your own readiness. The leaders who consistently move up are the ones who don’t wait for permission to grow. They:

• Keep learning and expanding their skills to stay relevant in their field.

• Seek feedback regularly and use it to improve.

• Show up as the leader they want to be now, demonstrating ownership, initiative, and vision before a new title arrives.

• Build their network because they know the next best position may be in a different division or in a different company.

When you take this approach, you become undeniable for the next role regardless of who is making the hiring decision.

The Takeaway

Promises don’t equal promotions. Preparation does. The real question is, "Am I doing the work to be the obvious choice when the opportunity opens?”

Your career growth is too important to leave to someone else and too important to leave to chance. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself now, so when the door opens, you’re ready to walk through it with confidence.