Getting a promotion sometimes seems like it’s impossible. No matter what you do or say, the elusive promotion always seems to be just out of your grasp. Here are five tips that will help you get started on the road to promotion.

Tip 1 – Work as hard as you play.

You play hard on the weekends. Just as hard as you play on the weekends, your work ethic should be just as committed. Show your colleagues and management how hard a worker you are. Your work should consistently be a high quality product whether it’s tangible or not. Make sure you follow up and follow through on your commitments. If you’ve never seen it before, ask for a copy of your job description. Are you living up to and exceeding the expectations outlined in your game plan?

Tip 2 – Don’t be a high maintenance employee.

There is nothing worse than a high maintenance employee. You know the type; they are never happy or satisfied. They want to say the color is blue when everyone else can clearly see the color is obviously red. They never “get it”. Sometimes managers will make allowances if you’re an extremely productive employee. Productivity, however, will not always guarantee a promotion. If you’re a poor performer and you’re high maintenance, your time with the company may be cut shorter than you would like. If you’re one of those employees, it’s time to make a change.

Tip 3 – Contributing to your boss’ goals increases your chances of promotion.

Like you, your boss has goals and measures they need to meet. This includes finishing projects on time, staying within budget and increasing profitability. When your boss exceeds his goals, he moves up the ladder. This may open up your door for a step up the rung. Many organizations believe in succession planning. Helping your boss receive a promotion increases your chances as well.

Tip 4 – Prove your ability to get along with others and work well in a team environment.

As the economy changes, more companies are doing more work with less staff. As a result, it’s imperative for employees to work together as a team. Find opportunities to prove you are eager and willing to participate in a team environment. If you’re not the type to get along with others or work as part of a team, your worth to the company will take a major hit. Work well with others, participate on teams and your worth to the company will multiply exponentially. Remember it’s not about you, it’s about the team.

Tip 5 – Leadership skills are essential when seeking a promotion.

Remember that leadership does not always mean you will manage people. You may manage projects. You may have a permanent staff you supervise or you may have a staff put together dependent upon the project. Exhibit your leadership skills in every situation. As you prepare for promotion, learn to help others on your team. If a new company policy is instituted, help others adapt to the change. If they are having difficulties, help them to seek solutions. By demonstrating leadership skills prior to your promotion, you are demonstrating to management you are able to do the job.

There are many factors which play into whether or not you get a promotion. The size of the company, business needs or the skills of other employees may play a role. By practicing these five simple tips, you can increase your chances of promotion.