How to Impress Your Manager and Get Recommended for Promotion

You have been working hard. You show up on time, every time. Your uniform is spotless. You handle your guests professionally. You are a good, reliable employee. But you look around and see other people, some with less experience, getting tapped for new projects and promotions. It can be frustrating. You might be wondering, “What am I missing?”

Here is the professional truth. Doing your job perfectly makes you a fantastic, dependable employee. It does not automatically make you the obvious choice for promotion. This is your guide on how to impress your manager and get recommended for promotion. It is about making a simple but powerful shift. You must change your goal from “doing my job well” to “proving I am ready for the next job.”

Your manager is not just looking for a good employee. They are looking for someone who can help them solve the team’s bigger problems. This is how you show them you are that person.

How to Impress Your Manager and Get Recommended for Promotion

1. Stop Reporting Problems. Start Owning Solutions.

This is the single most important leap in hospitality career acceleration. Your manager is busy. They are juggling budgets, schedules, and complaints from other departments. Their day is a constant stream of problems. They do not need more problems. They need solutions.

The Reliable Employee (The Problem Reporter)

This person sees an issue and brings it to the manager. “Boss, the printer is out of guest registration forms, and we have a tour group coming in.” This is not wrong, but it creates another task for the manager.

The Promotion Ready Professional (The Problem Solver)

This person sees an issue, creates a solution, and then reports the solution. “Boss, just a heads up, I saw we were running low on registration forms before the tour group arrived. I could not find the main supply, so I made 50 copies to get us through the rush, and I have already emailed the admin team to reorder the official stock. We are all set.”

Which person do you think the manager trusts more? One adds stress, the other removes it. Be the person who removes stress.

2. Make Your Good Work Visible (Without Bragging)

Your manager is not watching you every second. They do not see you handle that difficult guest with perfect calm. They do not see you staying 15 minutes late to help a new teammate. If your hard work is invisible, it does not count toward your promotion. You must make your value visible.

This is not about bragging. It is about simple, professional communication. A “bragger” says, “I am so great at my job.” A professional provides data.

Use the “Quick Win” Method

When you complete a proactive task, like we discussed in the “First 90 Days” article, let your manager know in a casual, respectful way. “Hi boss, I had some downtime between check outs, so I reorganized the entire back office supply closet. I also made a new inventory sheet for us. Just wanted to let you know.”

Use the “End of Week Update”

This is a powerful tool. Send your manager a very short, simple email every Friday afternoon. Do not make it emotional. Make it factual. “Subject: Quick Weekly Update Hi [Manager’s Name], Just a quick summary of my week.

I successfully handled the service recovery for the guest in 708.

I completed the new fire safety training module.

I noticed our reviews for ‘check in speed’ were down, so I focused on that all week. Have a great weekend.” This is not bragging. It is data. It gives your manager the exact facts they need to justify your promotion.

3. Ask for More Responsibility (The Smart Way)

Waiting to be given more responsibility is a slow path. Asking for it shows initiative and a hunger to grow. But how you ask matters.

The Wrong Way to Ask

“I am bored. Can I do something else?” This sounds negative and unfocused. You are giving your manager another job, which is to figure out what you should do.

The Right Way to Ask

Be specific and show you are thinking about the hotel’s needs, not just your own. “I have really mastered the check in and check out process. I am very interested in learning how the night audit works so I can better understand our hotel’s finances. Would it be possible for me to shadow the audit team for an hour on one of my days off?” This answer is perfect. It shows you want to learn, you are thinking about the business, and you are willing to invest your own time.

4. Become the “Go To” Expert for One Thing

What are you the best at? If you are not the best at something, choose one thing and master it. This makes you invaluable. When a manager thinks of a problem, your name should be the first one that comes to their mind as the solution.

Be the “go to” person for something specific.

The PMS Expert who knows every shortcut and can fix any posting error.

The Complaint Handler who new hires shadow because you are so calm.

The VIP Specialist who remembers every repeat guest’s preferences.

The Brand Standard expert who always has the perfect uniform and script. This is how you build your leadership potential. When a supervisor position opens up, the manager will think, “Who already knows how to handle the toughest problems? [Your Name].”

5. Choose Professionalism Over Gossip, Every Time

This is a non negotiable rule. Every hotel has a rumor mill. Every team has complainers. This is the fastest way to kill your career. Your manager is looking for maturity and good judgment. Participating in gossip is a sign of immaturity.

You do not have to be rude. When colleagues start to complain or gossip, simply stay quiet, nod politely, and find a reason to leave. “I have to go restock my station.”

Be the person who is known for their positive attitude and focus on work. Managers trust people who are loyal to the team and the brand, not people who create drama. A person who gossips about others will also gossip about their manager. No one will ever promote someone they cannot trust.

Your Promotion is Earned, Not Given

A promotion is not a reward for showing up for a long time. It is a recognition that you are already performing at the next level. Your job is to make your manager’s decision easy. By solving their problems, making your value visible, asking for more responsibility, and demonstrating unwavering professionalism, you are not just asking for a promotion. You are proving you have already earned it.

In our final article of this series, we will tie all this together by focusing on your professional “brand” and image, the final polish on your career.