Doing high-impact work but still haven’t been promoted?

Nazuk Jain -

If you’ve been doing high-impact work but still haven’t been promoted, something’s broken—and it’s not your output.

You’ve taken on more scope, led complex projects, maybe even coached others. But the title, recognition, and pay still haven’t followed. And each time the promo cycle passes, it chips away at your motivation just a little more.

This isn’t about being “patient.” It’s about being strategic and visible.

In this newsletter, I’ll break down 3 truths every PM needs to know to go from overlooked to leveled-up, without burning out or begging.

In my last role, I was hired as Head of Product. Within a year, I had built the entire product function from scratch—hired a team, launched multiple products, and scaled a system that worked alongside 25+ engineers.

I was operating like a VP. But my title didn’t change.

At first, I thought I needed to “do more.” But the truth was: no one up top really knew what I was doing. The Execs, the CEO, even my peers – there was not enough visibility into the scope or impact of my work.

That’s when it hit me: getting promoted isn’t just about the work you do. It’s about who sees it and how they interpret it.

Here are 3 things I want you to take away from this today

  1. Stop assuming your work speaks for itself. Start narrating your impact.
  2. Stop waiting to be recognized. Start positioning yourself for what’s next.
  3. Stop trying to do it all alone. Start activating advocates.

Let’s Dive in

1. Stop assuming your work speaks for itself. Start narrating your impact.

Most PMs document what they shipped. Few document what it changed. That’s the real gap. To mitigate that, start here

  • Create a Monthly “Impact Log”
    Every 30 days, answer:
    – What did I influence (not just own)?
    – What decisions did I make/drive?
    – What improved because of my input?
  • Use a ‘Before → After’ framing in team updates or 1:1s.
“Before this launch, onboarding took 14 days.

After? X feature launched or X process optimized, it now takes us 5 days.”
  • Try this 5-word story trick:
    Write a one-line summary of your impact that any exec could repeat in a promo meeting.
“She turned chaos into clarity.”
“He made onboarding our superpower.”
If you can’t yet? You’re not narrating clearly enough.

Instead of hoping your manager connects the dots, you're giving them the slides or words even for your promo pitch. You are creating your narrative. What do you want to be known for?

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2. Stop waiting to be recognized. Start positioning yourself for what’s next.

Promotions reward potential for scope, not past effort. If you're doing the job quietly, you're not de-risking the next move for your manager.

  • Do a “Gap Audit”
    Compare your current role to the next level. Look for gaps in:
    – Strategic influence
    – Cross-functional leadership
    – Complexity of ownership
  • Run a "Next-Level” Sprint. Whatever that next level role is for you
    Pick one initiative. Run it as if you're already in the next role. Think bigger bets, less handholding, more alignment work.
  • Write your future promo packet today.
    Answer: “What would my manager need to write about me to justify my promotion?” Now, become that person in the next 90 days.

You’re no longer “hoping” to get promoted. You’re making it hard not to.

3. Stop trying to do it all alone. Start activating advocates.

Promotion is rarely a solo decision. You need champions in rooms you’re not in.

  • Identify your “quiet stakeholders.”
    These are people your work affects, but who aren’t in your daily standups. Reach out once a quarter. Share outcomes, ask for insights.
  • Use a lightweight “Visibility Loop”:
    → Share an early idea
    → Loop them in mid-way
    → Show final results
    People advocate for what they’ve felt a part of.
  • Push yourself to ask one strategic question in every senior meeting:
“How does this decision tie into our Q3 goals?”
This positions you as a thinker, not just a doer. Brings visibility.

That’s a wrap

-Nazuk

Here is a worksheet you can download to help you craft your narrative

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