How to Write a Proposal Request for a Team Member to Get a Promotion

Show your colleague you're behind her by recommending a promotion.

Sometimes the people on the front lines are more aware of an employee's excellent performance than supervisors and managers are. If you have a co-worker who's doing a great job, why not recommend her for a promotion? While you may have the opportunity to make this suggestion during annual performance reviews, there's no reason to wait when you have positive comments to share about a colleague.



Write a letter proposing that your teammate receive a promotion. Not sure where to start? Structure it as you would if you were writing a letter of recommendation for a new job, or asking for a promotion for yourself.

Instructions

1. Address your letter to your co-worker's direct supervisor. Even if she isn't the person with the power to grant a promotion, the supervisor is the first link in the chain of command that will make it happen.

2. Make your letter's purpose very clear. State plainly that you're writing to recognize your co-worker's performance and to recommend that she receive a promotion.

3. Describe examples of your colleague's performance that support your position that she deserves a promotion. Be as specific as possible, including projects, actions and dates.

4. Share any positive comments you have heard about your co-worker's performance from other colleagues, customers, clients or supervisors. Use your discretion as to whether to attribute comments to a specific person or just say they came from "a co-worker" and "another co-worker."

5. Highlight the skills and qualities you believe your teammate would bring to a higher position, and be specific as to why you think the company would benefit from moving her up the ranks.

6. Offer to meet with your coworker's supervisor in person to share other details, or to provide more information in writing about his or her stellar performance.

7. In closing, reiterate your belief that your co-worker and the company would benefit if she is promoted and briefly restate the main reasons you think this move is warranted.

Tips & Warnings

• Edit and proofread your letter carefully; a recommendation that's riddled with errors won't carry much weight with a decision-maker.

• Review your letter after letting it sit for a day or two to make sure your tone and the content are professional and appropriate.

• Avoid bringing up any negatives, such as "So-and-so used to be a slacker, but in the last six months has really improved." Focus only on the positives to avoid sabotaging your well-intentioned letter.

Resources

• Article: Letter of Recommendation Samples
• Article: Sample Letters of Recommendation for Employment