Ask the Business Coach Joyce K. Reynolds is an expert Business Coach who works with CEOs, Sr. Execs, entrepreneurs and countless others providing knowledge, solutions, motivation and support that assist her clientele in successfully meeting workplace challenges. Find out more about Joyce's coaching practice. Gaining Responsibility Question: I have owned 3 businesses. All three did well. However, after a divorce, I went to college. Because I needed money I accepted a position at the college I attended as an part-time assistant. Since then, I can't get past the assistant title! I have gotten credit for setting up e-mail billing, event planning, applauds for buying etc. Can you help me with this? Paula Answer: One of the most effective ways to move up is to ask for more responsibility. Start by developing a presentation detailing what you've achieved since you've been on the job. Show how, in addition to successfully meeting your designated responsibilities, you've initiated and accomplished other meaningful improvements such as e-mail billing. Detail the events you've successfully put together and describe how your leadership qualities have impacted the organization. One of the main reasons people don't move up in organizations is because they're doing a great job and their supervisors don't want to lose them in their current positions. You want to overcome this problem with your presentation. State clearly to your bosses why it is in their best interests to reward you for doing a great job by moving you up and keeping your workplace stimulating and grow-oriented. Include in your documentation, a list of the things you've targeted to do going forward. Make suggestions regarding how they can handle any tasks that you might leave behind if you advance. Let them know what the rewards will be if they promote you - e.g., a more thriving workplace, a message to all employees that there's a reason for doing their jobs better, and invitation to initiating behavior in the organization-at-large. Build you case and positively present it. If you get a less than excited response - understand that it may be time to move on. Sometimes it is difficult for organizations to understand that they will lose good people if they allow them to get bored or feel unrewarded on their jobs. But if you prepare and present your plan, the very least that will occur is that you will have taken charge of your future - one way or another. Once the plan is on paper - it will either materialize at your present job or you will have a direction to take for your new job - and plenty to support why a new company would be smart to hire you. But first, present your case and ask for what you want. It's quite likely that you'll get it! Also see: • Ask Joyce your workplace questions • More questions • One-on-one business coaching Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual.