How to Say “No” to an Employee Unqualified for a Promotion

Leaders often face this dilemma: What should you do if an employee keeps pushing for a promotion to a job they aren’t qualified for? Obviously, as a leader, you don’t want to discourage someone who is looking to grow in their career, but you also can’t be pressured into putting someone in a position where they wouldn’t be successful—that's not beneficial for them or the organization. Explaining that, though, can be tricky. If the person is especially persistent, it helps to be direct in your communication. Say something to the effect of: “This position requires certain requirements, and we are not able to consider candidates who do not meet them because they are essential to performing the work well. This is something that will not change.” At this point, you can offer to help them get to the place where they will meet the requirements and help them build a roadmap to get there. If they continue to push, let them know their pressure is unacceptable. Say something like: “Continuing to pressure me on this after you’ve been told it is not a possibility right now is raising some concerns about your judgment. This is a major concern, as I cannot fill this role with someone who does not have good judgment.” The key here is to not be dismissive, clearly explain the situation, and be direct in your language.