Promotion Pass-over

People can often get upset when they don't get a promotion.  It can often become a sore spot when a close colleague is the successful candidate.  It can especially be an issue now as there are less senior executive chairs in most companies so the next promotion can be harder to forecast.

The mature response and the one that is best suited for the long term outlook, involves congratulating the winner and letting them know that they have your full support and commitment.  Often people will say congrats of the new job but will say it half heartily if they decide to say anything at all.

The old adage of not burning any bridges is still the best guideline.

1.

 You may want references

2.

 You will want to immediately position yourself as someone who wants to be with the ruling regime      instead of against it even if it is to just buy time   until you next opportunity outside of the organization.

The other element at play is that positive energy is empowering.  People want to be around positive people and someone who extends congratulations will often receive an olive branch extended to them. Interesting opportunities or promotions can come as a result.

Don't have a suck attack, don't have a pity party, don't gossip or talk negatively about people in the company or the company itself, don't show any outward disappointment.

Shape up and maybe accept the fact that you can possibly learn from the experience.  Did you rub people the wrong way?  Did you really have all the necessary qualifications?  Maybe there was a reason that you did not get the position.  Ask where you may have ranked behind the winning party but do it as a form of learning so that you can improve and not to try to convince the decision makers that they had you "pegged wrong"

Control the ego and let your long term interests be the priority!

Farewell,

Mike