The real questions are, how promotable are you right now? And, what can you do to get the career growth you deserve? Take this FREE quiz and find out. Your Email* 1. Are you a member of a traditionally marginalized (women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color - BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, people with invisible or visible disabilities or challenges) group at your work?* Yes No 2. To what extent do you share non-work-related yet important aspects of your life at work?* I’d like to share, but I keep my work and the rest of my life completely separate because I don’t feel comfortable or safe to share. I keep my work and the rest of my life completely separate by choice. I could share comfortably if I wanted to. I share some parts of my life, but I don’t feel comfortable sharing other parts because I’m afraid people might misjudge me. I share most of my life with those I work with, with ease and comfort. 3. How much are you able to be seen, heard and valued in your day-to-day formal work tasks and operations?* Almost to no extent. I have to fight every step of the way to get my voice and contributions seen and heard in formal day-to-day work tasks. I regularly get overlooked and my contributions either go unnoticed or someone else gets credit for them. Somewhat but not as much as I’d like. I am able to get my voice heard and my contributions noticed for a few work related tasks, but, I have to fight to be included in any decisions that affect me. Somewhat but I’m okay with the extent of my participation. I am able to get my voice heard and contributions noticed when I want to. To a great extent. I am included, and am able to participate, be seen, heard and valued in my formal work operations almost all the time. 4. You have to ask for feedback or share some negative feedback with your coworkers and teammates. Which of these statements resonates most with how you feel about that?* I am very uncomfortable. Feedbacks tend to get very judgmental so I don’t feel comfortable at all asking for or giving feedback. I am somewhat uncomfortable. I am worried that they’ll think I’m incompetent or a negative Nelly, so I try to only ask for or offer feedback when its critical. When that happens, I am as honest as I think I can be. I am somewhat comfortable. I don’t have a problem asking for or sharing feedback, but I also don’t feel like it's my responsibility. To each their own. So I tend not to initiate. I am very comfortable. I am very comfortable asking for and giving feedback, even if it is negative. I think feedback, no matter what it is, is critical. So, I try to give and receive feedback as much as I can, regularly. 5. You have to ask for feedback or share some negative feedback with your supervisor(s) or higher ups. Which of these statements resonates most with how you feel about that?* I am very uncomfortable. They wouldn’t give me the time and space and I don’t want my higher ups to hold or use my feedback against me in negative ways. I am not confident that they wouldn’t. I am somewhat uncomfortable. I worry that they’ll think I’m being combative or negative, but I know that if it is important, I can set up a meeting to do it, and I would be honest, even if it comes back to bite me. I am somewhat comfortable. I could set up a meeting to do this anytime, but I choose not to. My work is my work and theirs is theirs. So, I tend not to initiate. But, if they do, sure, I’ll give them my honest opinion. I am very comfortable. I think it is extremely important that I hold my supervisors and higher ups accountable to good standards, and I want them to improve. I share my feedback with them and ask them for feedback, regularly. 6. Your leadership decision making team decides to have an unannounced, informal, impromptu “happy hour” at a local restaurant. Which one of these statements most reflects your reality?* I never get invited. And I don’t feel comfortable asking to be invited. I get invited but I never go because I’m not comfortable. I get invited and I go, but I’m not able to be myself. I get invited, and I participate fully as myself. 7. You need to have a one-on-one meeting with your immediate manager/supervisor/boss about your growth and leadership plans. How confident are you that your manager/boss/supervisor cares about your leadership growth trajectory?* Very confident. My supervisor is in regular contact with me about my growth and fully supports me on my leadership and growth trajectory. They give me all the tools and resources I need, often without asking. And, if they don’t, I’m comfortable asking. Fairly confident. My supervisor doesn’t initiate these types of conversations, but I know I can reach out whenever I want to. They would give me the tools and resources I need for my growth and leadership if I asked. Somewhat confident. These types of conversations only happen around performance review times. I don’t feel comfortable reaching out to them outside of these times. Not confident. My growth in my role is measured only though performance reviews. I don’t have the option of more meetings. I can’t ask for the tools and resources I would need for my growth. I have to figure it out on my own. 8. Your loved one is suddenly sick. You will have to take at least a couple of days off to take care of them, and you might have to work remotely for the near future as your loved one recovers. Which of the following statements aligns the most with your work-life balance?* My loved one is going to have to find someone else to take care of them. I don’t have an option. I have to report to work. My company’s leadership and HR would probably use it against me somehow. I’m not willing to even risk it. I will probably be able to use a couple of sick days to take care of my loved one immediately, but I won’t have the option of working remotely in a longer term capacity. I would be able to use a couple of sick days to take care of my loved one, immediately. And, I would probably get approved for alternate work options if I asked for them. But, I’ll probably just call in sick. It is just easier. I’m confident that my supervisor(s) and HR personnel would accommodate whatever my needs are to take care of my loved one. Of course, I’d still be responsible for my work, but I am comfortable asking them for whatever I need. Δ
