Reviews, pay and promotions

“Be patient. Your promotion is next cycle.”

I was told to "be patient" about a promotion for the third review cycle in a row.

What's really going on

• "Be patient," three cycles in a row with nothing concrete attached, usually isn't patience. It's a stall.
• Promotions depend on more than your output: budget and headcount, a real business need, a well-documented case, and a manager willing to fight for you at calibration.
• Being visible to the people above your manager often matters as much as the work. If the people who actually decide don't know you, you can stay stuck no matter how good you are.
• Sometimes the delay really is timing or budget outside your manager's control. Sometimes it suits your manager to keep you exactly where you are. The only way to tell is to ask for specifics.

What to say

"I hear you, and I appreciate you being straight with me. It's been three cycles though, so help me understand: what exactly needs to happen, and roughly when, for this to move?"

Change the words so they sound like you, but keep the tone.