Losing a Promotion to Someone Who Becomes Your Boss

By Mark Swartz

Monster Contributing Writer

The news hits you hard: you didn’t get that big promotion. Goodbye for now dreams of more direct reports and higher salary. Worse than that, the person who got promoted – and who’ll be your new boss – makes for an uncomfortable fit.

Possibly the promoted person is your worst rival. Or best friend. Or a family member of the owner. In any of these situations, you may be anxious about how you’ll let this affect you. Disappointment may be written all over your face. But keeping your job depends on getting along with your new supervisor.

What to do? You can’t change management’s decision. So you’ll have to channel your resentment constructively. Here’s how.

See If You Can Find Out Why You Weren’t Chosen

When you’ve tried hard to earn a promotion but it goes to someone else, it’s natural to feel slighted at first. Especially if you believe you were more deserving. It might help you to examine what in fact happened.

You could well be more qualified than the person they promoted. Yet if you haven’t made your boss aware of your value, you may remain low on his or her radar screen. Here are some tips on:How To Get Noticed At Promotion Time.

Then again, could it be that you really aren’t as deserving as you think? If the promoted person is more productive than you, has developed their ability to lead people, is not afraid to make difficult decisions, and has demonstrated new skillsets that the employer needs, then all the self-promotion in the world won’t get you to that next level.

Be aware that you may never find out the real reason you were overlooked. Internal politics may have played a role, for example. In any case it could be worthwhile to ask the decision makers themselves for insight. Consider requesting suggestions on how you might improve your chances in upcoming promotion opportunities.

Hide Your Disappointment At Work, Blow Off Steam With A Trusted Outsider

Dragging yourself around the workplace with a frown? Grumbling to colleagues that it’s you who should have been promoted? That sort of behaviour does get noticed; though not in a positive way. Soon your new boss will sense your unhappiness. It may not take long before they start questioning your loyalty.

Avoid putting your job in jeopardy. Continue to be outwardly positive when at work. However don’t just bury your resentment. That’ll cause it to fester and get worse. Instead, speak to a friend about how you’re feeling. A supportive outlet ,where you can blow off steam away from work, is a safety valve for your emotions.

Make Nice With Your New Boss

Be among the first to congratulate the promoted person. Tell them that you genuinely look forward to working with them. Ask them if there is anything you can do to assist them in transitioning as your new boss.

You may want to help organize a lunch or dinner to acknowledge or welcome this person. And when it comes to actually working with the new boss, try to make it free of friction. Make yourself their ally by suggesting ways they can increase efficiency or save costs. Be there when they need you and help them perceive you as reliable and professional.

Weigh Your Options

What does it say about your prospects within the company if they pass you by for promotion? That’s something you’ll need to figure out. If you determine that you’re not currently seen as promotable, you have two basic options.

One is to beef up your track record and earn management’s respect. This might mean upgrading your credentials, getting involved in projects with greater visibility, or spending more face-time at work.

Another option is to seek out greener pastures. If you’re not appreciated where you are, maybe you should think about if it’s time to move on. It may not make sense to stick around too long where you aren’t fully valued.