If you want to get promoted, you have to be in the game year-round. Waiting until performance evaluation time to “make your case” is usually too late, because promotion decisions get shaped long before the review cycle. The people who get picked are the ones who are already top of mind, already trusted, and already seen operating at the next level.
That is why you should stay in “promotion mode,” not by being loud, but by being intentional: invest in your brand and visibility, work closely with your boss and decision-makers, contribute to the projects they care about, and communicate your impact in ways they can repeat and act on. Your coworkers can be great people, but they are also friendly rivals, so build advantages while still being the kind of teammate others want on the mission.
