The Exact Words to Use When Asking for Your Promotion

March 9, 2026

Waiting on a promotion that isn't happening? In this episode, I walk you through exactly what to say in two common scenarios so you can finally get the clarity and the title you've earned.

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Episode Summary
Waiting on a promotion that isn't happening? In this episode, I walk you through exactly what to say in two common scenarios so you can finally get the clarity and the title you've earned. Grab my free negotiation guide at morewomenpromoted.com/negotiate/

Have you been waiting on a promotion that just keeps getting delayed - or worse, was promised to you and then quietly forgotten?

You're not imagining it. And you're not alone. The problem usually isn't your performance. It's that no one is having the right conversation, and that someone needs to be you.

In this episode, I walk you through the exact words and strategy to use in two of the most common promotion scenarios women face: when your scope has grown but your title hasn't, and when a promotion was promised but nothing has happened.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL LEARN:

  • Why taking on increased scope is almost always the right move, and how to use it as leverage for your title bump
  • How to build a side-by-side business case that makes it obvious you deserve the next level
  • The exact questions to ask when a promised promotion has stalled
  • Why framing it as "I don't feel valued" backfires, and what to say instead
  • How to create follow-up accountability so this conversation actually leads somewhere

Don't leave this conversation to chance. Grab my free step-by-step negotiation guide at morewomenpromoted.com/negotiate/ and walk in prepared.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

 

…LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVO!

Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.

Hi, I’m Katy McFee
A former VP and EVP who knows how hard it is to break into executive leadership. After years of feeling stuck, I figured it out and now, as a certified executive coach, I help other women do the same. I’ve supported hundreds in landing the promotions they deserve with strategies that make success achievable, without the years of trial and error.