Vent: My big plan to get a promotion blew up in my face last quarter

I worked on a special project for three months, putting in extra hours to lead it. I was sure it would show I was ready for the next level. At my review, my boss said the project was 'fine' but didn't show the 'strategic thinking' they wanted. I was crushed. I asked for clear examples of what that meant, but the answer was vague. Has anyone else gotten this kind of feedback and figured out how to actually show it?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthew1222mo ago

Forget the buzzword. Show them the money your project saved or made next time.

jaken232mo ago

Oof, that's rough. Honestly though, "strategic thinking" is one of those corporate buzzwords that usually means your boss can't give you a real answer. If the project was fine and got done, you probably just need to wait for a budget to open up or for someone above you to quit.

jordancoleman1mo ago

Jaken23 is right about the buzzword thing, but there is a real idea behind it. They don't just want to know you can do the task. They want to know you understand why the task matters to the bigger goals. Next time, start your pitch by explaining how your project fits into the company's big picture, not just your own job. Connect your work to saving money, getting new customers, or fixing a long term problem they talk about in meetings. That's what they mean by strategic.