# Turn a promotion "not yet" into a clear plan

A specific 3-6 month plan, with agreed milestones, after being passed over or told you're not ready.

- Topic: Career & Job Search
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Career, Leadership, Plan, Translate, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/turn-a-promotion-not-yet-into-a-clear-plan

## Prompt

```text
I was told "not yet" on my promotion. Help me turn that into a plan. This is step 4 of my promotion plan; it works best with the feedback and the evidence file from earlier steps.

**Exact feedback I received:** [QUOTE as closely as possible]
**Who decided and how:** [manager, committee, skip-level]
**My evidence file or promotion packet:** [PASTE if available]
**Next promotion window:** [DATE]
**How I'm feeling about staying:** [e.g. "committed", "frustrated, open to leaving"]

Steps:
1. Translate vague feedback ("needs more visibility", "not quite strategic enough") into 2-3 observable behaviors or outcomes. Mark any interpretation as [CONFIRM WITH MANAGER].
2. For each, propose a concrete opportunity to demonstrate it before the next window - a project, a stretch responsibility, or a presentation.
3. Build a check-in schedule with my manager to review progress.

Return:
- A short, non-defensive reply to send my manager asking for specifics and agreement on the plan.
- A milestone table: Gap | What I'll do | Evidence it will produce | Date.
- Signs the plan is working vs. signs promotion isn't realistic here.
- An honest note on when exploring roles elsewhere makes sense, without telling me what to decide.
```

## What to fill in

- QUOTE as closely as possible
- manager, committee, skip-level
- PASTE if available
- DATE
- e.g. "committed", "frustrated, open to leaving"
- CONFIRM WITH MANAGER

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.