Being good at your job can lead to a promotion, but it’s far from the only factor leaders consider before making that call. You also have to demonstrate qualities that inspire confidence, trust and long-term leadership potential. Those who rise through the ranks tend to distinguish themselves in subtle, consistent ways that signal their readiness, reliability and potential to influence the organization.
If you’re aiming to move up the professional ladder, understanding and cultivating certain habits can help you stand out in the eyes of decision-makers. Below, 20 members of Forbes Coaches Council share the top traits they see in professionals who get promoted, shedding light on attributes that truly set future leaders apart.
1. Proactive Leadership
The one trait professionals have that gets them promoted is that they lead. They identify an upcoming project or a growing issue that leadership would like solved and take the lead on that project. This not only provides experience, but it will also give your leadership a chance to see your skills firsthand. Simply leading and yielding great results will showcase your talent as a leader. – Lisa Herbert, Just The Right Balance LLC
2. Assertive Curiosity
Professionals who get promoted have assertive curiosity. Their curiosity exceeds that of their peers, and they are willing and able to assert themselves in a positive way to explore the what, why, who, how, when and where surrounding any topic of their curiosity. Their curiosity focuses on improvement for people and organizations rather than abstract exploration. Their approach is assertive and inviting rather than aggressive and alienating. – William E. “Bill” Kieffer, Kieffer & Associates
3. Positive Energy
It’s positivity, because negativity kills everything. You can have the best idea in the room, but if your energy repels instead of attracts, it will never take off. Leaders promote people who elevate the energy in the room: people who bring solutions, not problems. Confidence and positivity aren’t just contagious; they’re magnetic. And when you’re magnetic, people want to follow you. – Lynn Smith, Lynn Smith Media & Communications
4. A Deep Belief In Possibility
Your mindset should be rooted in a fundamental belief that achieving your desired outcome is possible. This belief should underpin your responsible mindset in achieving your goals and self-actualizing. Managers love team members who have it, and team members follow leaders who have it. Be positive; it is a leading characteristic of success. – Julian Lighton, Moo Pie Advisors Inc
5. A Mindset Of Ownership
Professionals who get promoted tend to think like owners, which is attractive to leaders assessing who is committed to both their own personal development and to the sustainability of the organization. When professionals engage as owners of both their outcomes and the business, they also often report greater work fulfillment because they have connected their value to the overall success of the firm. – Precious Williams Owodunni, Mountaintop Consulting
6. A Solution-Based Vision
You see solutions instead of problems. You not only have the ability to identify gaps and problems, but also the mindset to create solutions. You see an opportunity to support others and to make improvements, and you raise your hand to lead them, even if you don’t have a leadership title. Having a leadership mindset and approach, in the right company culture, will lead to opportunities for promotion and growth. – Susan Bortone, Noble Talent Group
7. A Willingness To Listen To Feedback
Listening is an underrated trait! Leaders who are willing to ask for feedback and truly listen to the answers build more trust and credibility. Trust builds strong relationships where people will follow you. Leaders who do this well do it in both one-on-one and team meetings, demonstrating they are flexible and willing to listen to alternative points of view and act on that information. – Shelley Hammell, Sage Alliance, Inc.
8. Alignment With Leadership Goals
Alignment is key. Your ability to be aligned to the vision, goals and priorities of the leaders you are supporting will get you further faster because you are leveraging the power of your relationship to achieve something meaningful. Your next step: Lead so that others also align to you. All boats rowing in the same direction, with speed and commitment, will arrive at their destination. – Joelle Jay, Leadership Research Institute
9. Prioritization Of The Team
Professionals who get promoted are team players. Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt had a key rule for her winning teams: “You must put the team before yourself.” She made it clear that if you put yourself before the team, you don’t get to play. Leaders notice those who elevate others, not just themselves, because culture wins games. No one wants to intentionally promote a brilliant jerk. – Justin Patton, The Trust Architect Group
10. Relationship-Building Skills
The stellar ability to build and sustain business relationships at all levels is a distinct trait of promoted professionals. Especially unique are the quiet leaders who are known for being these relationship builders. This combination is becoming more sought-after and valued. – Linda Allen-Hardisty, Allen-Hardisty Leadership Group
11. Exceptional Communication
Exceptional communication skills will raise the cream to the top. No matter the industry, a professional who can adeptly communicate and articulate effectively stands out as an individual who can engage with team members and leaders with intention. Additionally, these individuals are more likely to clarify and confirm expectations, enhancing their abilities to exceed expectations. – Sherre DeMao, BizGrowth Inc
12. Strategic Visibility
People who get promoted excel at strategic visibility. They masterfully communicate their impact and build influential relationships. They don’t just deliver results; they ensure key stakeholders understand how their contributions drive organizational success. Leaders need team members who reduce leadership’s cognitive load by making their worth unmistakable and their potential clear. – Aurelien Mangano, DevelUpLeaders
13. Storytelling Skills
I’ll pick storytelling skills as being among the top traits that one should develop to grow and move on the career roadmap. Leaders seek clarity and transparency, and they like presentations with well-structured information. If budget and/or approval are required, it should just be as easy as “yes” or “no” for them. – Nav Thethi, The Nav Thethi
14. Egoless Confidence
Confidence is an enduring trait for those who are getting promoted. This is different from egoism and self-centeredness. Confidence is the inner belief of those who get promoted: that they can do the next job. It implies self-sufficiency, capability, know-how, positivity and initiative, among other attributes. Leaders love seeing and investing in a confident professional. – Evan Roth, Roth Consultancy International, LLC.
15. Initiative Beyond The Job Description
Professionals who rise quickly demonstrate remarkable initiative—they solve problems before they’re asked and create value beyond their job description. This trait captivates leaders because it multiplies organizational capacity without additional management overhead, essentially delivering leadership’s most precious resource: capable decision-making they don’t need to supervise. – Jonathan H. Westover, Ph.D., Human Capital Innovations
16. Full Commitment To The Mission
What makes one promotable? In a word: commitment. Work ethic is showing up, putting in long hours. That’s okay, of course, but anyone can do that. Commitment, however, is caring about outcomes and thinking like an owner. Committed people solve problems versus log time. They stick around and grow within roles. When promoting, I pick who’s invested in the mission over who stays the latest. Commitment signals genuine partnership in success. – Antonio Garrido, My Daily Leadership
17. The Desire To Learn And Grow
A desire to learn and grow is attractive to leaders and organizations when considering promotability. As the professional wanting to be promoted, be clear about what you want to learn or where you want to grow, and talk to your boss. Bosses, ask what those on your team are curious about and interested in. Discuss and keep in touch, as it may take time to find the right opportunity. – Kelly Ross, Ross Associates
18. Emotional Regulation In Decision-Making
A key trait of promotable professionals is emotional self-regulation in decision-making. Leaders notice when someone can pause—whether stressed, frustrated, anxious or overly excited—and check their emotions before responding. This ability to stay grounded, assess facts and solve problems signals the clarity, emotional awareness and readiness professionals need for bigger leadership roles. – Kathleen Shanley, Statice
19. The Ability To Lean Into Optimism
Pessimists are often great at identifying problems and even proposing solutions, but if you’re overly pessimistic, it can harm your social capital. If you’re a glass-half-empty person, seeing the glass half full instead may be the best way to increase your chances of being promoted. This is especially important in leadership roles. – Carol Geffner, Geffner Group, LLC
20. Genuine Kindness
Professionals who demonstrate kindness and engage others in building ideas and brainstorming are very attractive to leaders. It has to be genuine! – Wendy Hanson, New Level Work
This article was originally posted on Forbes.com.