Jocko Willink: How To Get Promoted

Want to get ahead at work? Don’t fixate on landing a promotion, says former U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, who is now an author and leadership coach.

If you’re focused on earning a title change or salary bump, he tells CNBC Make It, “you start to miss out on the things that are important parts of your job,” such as being a team player or supporting your boss.

Plus, only looking out for yourself might rub your coworkers the wrong way, which can hurt you in the long run. “In your mind, you think no one notices that you’re maneuvering and you’re trying to be noticed, when in reality, most of the time when you’re trying to stand up above everyone else … everyone else on the team notices and they don’t like it,” he says.

That means that “when the opportunity comes for them to pull you down, they’re going to take it.”

It sounds counterintuitive, but “one of the best ways to ensure that you get promoted and you get put in a leadership role is to not worry about getting promoted and getting put in a leadership role,” says Willink. Instead, direct your energy towards working hard and adding value to your team.

If you focus on supporting your colleagues, “you will get noticed for that,” he continues. “And when people have the opportunity to pull you up, they’re going to do that. So, don’t focus on yourself. Don’t focus on your promotion. Focus on doing a great job.”

If you do that, “in the long run, you’ll get your selection,” he says, adding: “All leaders know that great team members, if given the right opportunity, will step up and turn into great team leaders.”

At the same time, you want to make sure you don’t go completely unnoticed, Willink says: “If you start to turn into someone that doesn’t ever voice their opinion because you don’t want to ruffle any feathers, then you could perhaps get overlooked.

“You want to find a good, solid balance between being a solid performer, keeping your mouth shut, not interfering with people, but at the same time, being a positive force on the team. ... That kind of attitude is what everyone is looking for inside of an organization.”

Bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch offers similar advice when it comes to landing a promotion. Always over-deliver, she says, and make sure you’re going above and beyond with the intent of helping your entire team and not just yourself.

“Don’t mix up over-delivering with being ambitious,” she tells CNBC Make It. “Overzealous ladder-climbing is about you. Over-delivering results is about making your company and colleagues more successful.”

In short, the key to getting to the next level at work is to “over-deliver on results and under-deliver on office drama,” says Welch. Doing this, she adds, is “a one-two career punch that’s hard to beat.”

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Former Navy SEAL: Don’t do this if you want to get promoted | CNBC Make It.

[supersmart]

This is a jewel. I was constantly thinking about becoming a leader and read a ton of books on leadership. It did not work!! This is the best way to put it.

[kylerbailey]

Jocko is not only a former Navy SEAL but also the former commander of them. It's one thing being a member of one of the most feared and fatal special ops squads in the world, but to lead em is another

[stMikeWhite]

I believe the real message should be directed toward workers humbling themselves and realizing that some bosses will show favoritism to workers who you may think aren’t a better leader than you. The reason you are working at that job is for your own growth and experience, not everyone will see the things you see and know of the things you’ve done to put your job first, but if you’re passionate about your work, and have a humble spirit it will be much easier to not be jealousy toward coworkers or bosses. You will be rewarded in the end even if it’s only by being happy with peace of mind.

[Hairy.Whodini]

I love Jocko and this is great advice for anyone.
However-- I have a hard time being optimistic that "everything will work out in the long run if you work hard."
The sad reality is:
- hard work is rewarded with more work. Period. If you're the quiet, hard-working type: no one will notice you. You'll eventually turn into that quiet, dependable shell of a person that's been doing the same shit at the company for the last 20 years.
- You HAVE to learn to sell yourself. You HAVE to keep track of your accomplishments. Save every complimentary email, record every project and its financial impact, record every change you've implemented that increased productivity or streamlined a process.
(You can be the quiet, dependable wheel no one ever thinks of, or you can be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Just have your shit ready to go when they ask why the fuck you're squeaking.)
- Be the type of teammate you'd want to have on your team.
- Don't stay at the same job longer than 2 to 3 years if-- your boss (genuinely), hates you; the management or work atmosphere is toxic; you've plateaued and management is unwilling to help you progress; if you've lost respect for your work and don't take it seriously anymore.

[HostDotPromo]

This guy always has good advice, however Its hard to get promoted when your the boss 🔥

[coreymetzker]

Followed this advice pretty much to a tee for over ten years and have never been promoted. It’s always the people that have barbeques together out of work. It’s all just a popularity contest. Being great at what you do and working selflessly only gets you used and abused. Play politics

[LosPollos_]

After ten years of working in major corporations, I can say that most advice here is harmful. Unfortunately, it is those who put themselves above others who work more on their presentation than business tasks and so on - who get promoted. I have seen this more than once (dunno, ten times?). I myself have played the role of a workaholic, and once someone gets in over their heads - unfortunately, the second way always wins over the first.

[jaybrielakoi]

Normally don’t say mean things but I’m sick and tired of this jocko guy giving bad advice. In my opinion the military and war have very little relationship to corporate America. If you think it does then look at the success rate of veterans. They fail at being civilians.