The start of a new year often brings resolutions: eat healthier, learn a new skill, hit the gym (AGAIN), spend less hours doomscrolling on TikTok… But what about your career? If your sights are set on leveling up in 2025, let’s focus on one game-changing resolution: securing that coveted promotion as a PM. Spoiler alert: it’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter.
At Product People, we’ve seen countless professionals navigate this transition, and we’re here to share what works, what doesn’t, and how to position yourself as the obvious choice when opportunity knocks. Are you ready to unwrap your potential? 🎁
Promotions aren’t handed out like holiday cookies (well, we wish they were). They’re earned through consistent growth, self-reflection, and a clear understanding of what’s expected at the next level. A solid resolution we swear by in Product People is to always aim to demonstrate 80% of the required competencies for the next level before you’re even in the running
Here’s how to kickstart your journey:
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Understand the Criteria: Every company has its own framework for promotions. If yours doesn’t, now’s the time to suggest creating one—bonus points for leadership skills!
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Seek Feedback: Regular 360° feedback and one-on-ones with your manager are crucial. Use these sessions to identify gaps in your skills and develop a clear action plan to bridge them.
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Embrace Emotional Resilience: Leadership demands grace under pressure. Build this skill by recognizing your triggers and managing your reactions—a crucial trait for anyone aspiring to lead teams.
Let’s get one thing straight: stellar individual performance is necessary but not sufficient. Your impact needs to resonate across teams and management.
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Be a Team Player: Actively collaborate with cross-functional teams. This builds trust and showcases your ability to influence without authority—a key leadership trait.
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Mentor and Coach: Take junior team members under your wing. Not only does this demonstrate your readiness to lead, but it’s also a practical way to hone your people management skills.
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Make Your Work Loud: Share your successes and learnings with peers and leadership. This isn’t about bragging—it’s about ensuring your contributions don’t go unnoticed.
Promotions come to those who consistently exceed expectations. It’s time to look beyond your job description and embrace strategic thinking.
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Take Initiative: Volunteer for projects that align with organizational goals but fall outside your immediate responsibilities. For example, if your company is pushing a product-led growth strategy, offer to lead a discovery initiative or optimize user onboarding.
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Think Strategically: Shift your focus from “what needs to get done today” to “what’s best for the company” in the long run. Start conversations about market trends, customer needs, and business opportunities.
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Learn the Business: Financial literacy and a strong understanding of your company’s revenue streams will make you an invaluable asset. Begin by diving into discussions with commercial and finance teams.
The higher up you go, the more critical communication becomes. Leaders don’t just present ideas—they inspire action (and also spend a lot of time in meetings).
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Master Stakeholder Management: Map your stakeholders, understand their priorities, and tailor your messaging to resonate with them; show you’ve understood their perspective, even if you disagree.
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Tell Compelling Stories: Use storytelling frameworks to present your ideas with clarity and impact. Highlight the problem, propose a solution, and showcase the benefits—with data to back it up.
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Ask for Support: Promotions are rarely solo efforts. Ensure your manager and peers are on board with your goals and can advocate for your readiness when the time comes.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your promotion won’t be either. Be patient, persistent, and strategic.
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Stay the Course: On average, professionals who remain at a company for 4-5 years are more likely to secure internal promotions than those who jump ship every two years. Always keep in mind what the reasons for you to stay in an organization are—do you want to climb the ladder? Do you want to learn? Are you in it for the money? (Honestly, no judging)
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Choose the Right Environment: If upward mobility seems impossible in your current organization, consider companies that prioritize promoting from within. Look for firms with transparent career paths and a track record of nurturing talent.
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Be Prepared: When the opportunity arises, ensure your case is airtight. Document your achievements, highlight your readiness for the next level, and present a clear vision for your growth.
As you step into the new year, remember that the journey to promotion is as much about self-discovery as it is about career advancement. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the small wins, and keep building your path with intention.
Who knows? Perhaps next time you read the Product People Newsletter, you might be featured as a newly promoted Product Lead, VP, or even CPO. Until then, keep pushing boundaries—and don’t forget to share your progress with us. We’re rooting for you!
Happy New Year, and may 2025 see you into your best growth and success era!
*And remember to think twice before signing up for a recurring gym membership that you won’t be able to cancel without having to write a 70k word dissertation to customer support! (Someone is speaking from experience here…)
If you feel like you want to go a bit deeper into how to get promoted in 2025, here’s the link to the YouTube video where our COO Viktoria Korzhova shares all her expertise, as well as this talk here where she discusses how to build relationships as a PM.
We also recommend to check out these:
Make sure to bookmark, these are gifts that keep on giving!
(Pssst, if you like our content, subscribe and share this Newsletter. It makes our editor very happy.)
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