The Trouble with Promotions
The 27-year old daughter of good friends of ours from New Jersey recently moved to Chicago to work for a non-profit organization. It was only her second real job since graduating college and was a great opportunity for her. It was an entry-level position working for a cause that was very important to her. The pay wasn't great but she quickly made fast friends with several of her peers. They spent quality time together outside of work. She also liked and respected her boss. She very much enjoyed coming to work every day.
One day everything changed. No, she wasn't fired. She was promoted. She had been there for only 6 months and her friends who had been with the organization much longer were resentful that they had not been the one to be promoted. She was now put in the awkward position of having to supervise her "friends." And now she reported directly to the Executive Director instead of her former boss. She was honored by the promotion and knew it was an important step in her career, but she was no longer happy at work. Dealing with the animosity of her peers was very difficult, and it was an adjustment getting used to her new boss. She felt lonely. Suddenly, coming to work was no longer fun.
THE PROBLEM
This is a common problem and poses difficulties for both the person who is promoted and those who are not.
The person who is promoted must now re-negotiate their relationships with their peers, former supervisor, and new supervisor. They must also establish a new identity within the organization including new colleagues, new goals, and a new perspective on their role in the organization.
For some, these challenges are welcomed and motivating, but for others they are just the opposite.
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