One of the most common promotion games isn’t a ‘no’ – it’s an endless ‘not yet’.
Add this to your 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 ‘𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝘁’ – how organisations keep you performing without ever committing to your progression.
When you ask about progression, you keep hearing, ‘We just need to see this level of performance sustained a bit longer.’
Your targets are met, but the criteria keep shifting.
There’s no clear written standard for ‘ready’.
Newer people get promoted while you’re told to ‘wait’.”
Deeper dynamic:
“That’s not a neutral update. It’s a play designed to keep your output while avoiding a commitment to your progression.”
Downside:
“The longer it runs, the more your effort benefits the system, not your career.”
Tiny next step:
“Start treating every ‘not yet’ as data about how this place uses you. Write down the exact words and when you hear them – patterns will show you more than one conversation ever will.”