As an Amazon VP, I saw many people get promoted and many more fall behind. I realized there are two main reasons people get stuck. Here they are:

1. You aren’t considered.

2. You are considered but not selected.

These are different.

Here’s why they each happen and what you can do:

1. Not Considered.

If you are not being considered, it could be because:

→ You are working hard and hoping to be noticed. You can't wait for someone to notice you. The higher the level, the more competition there is. Others may be doing a better job showcasing their impact.

→ You don’t have the necessary relationships. People promote those they trust, so even if your work is good, you may not have the relationships to support it. Go build them. You need to build good relationships and make sure you are recognized for your work in order to move up.

2. Considered but not selected. This could happen because:

→ You do "current role" work, not "next-level" work. Some people wait to be compensated for the next role before doing the next role’s work. This may be more “fair,” but it isn’t the way it works. Do the work and get recognized, then you will move up.

→ You have blindspots. Conduct an honest 360 feedback review from your manager, manager peers, skip, peers, and people who do not like you. Get (and face) the truth. This could be a blindspot in your work or in your personality. Your work may be fine, but if you are abrasive, judgmental, volatile, or too quiet, you will struggle to move up.

Other reasons for career stagnation could be:

→ There are no available roles/needs at the next level. If this is the case, position yourself to be the person to inherit teams when there is downsizing. Create value by proposing new ideas and projects. Take on new challenges.

→ Your company expects broader skills at the next level. For example, you are a great product leader but at the VP level they want finance skills or some other qualification. Fill your gaps.

→ Unconscious bias. This does happen but it is also easy to blame even if it isn’t the real cause.

First, look deeply at the reasons above that you can control. If you aren’t moving up, there is also always the option of leaving and going somewhere else. However, I don’t recommend this until you know the real root of the issue.

You must identify and address the root cause of your stagnation, otherwise you will hit the same roadblocks in other jobs. If you honestly determine that you are being blocked by something outside of your control, then leaving is the best option. But, an honest self-assessment is key here.

Want to know what it takes to get promoted to the executive level?

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