The most important thing you need to do is not just set up the conversation early, but to speak very candidly with your boss. Talking about a raise or a promotion should never lead to a surpris it's a conversation that should start three to six months in advance. Knowing what the responsibilities of the senior director roll are such that if your company was to write a job description for senior director to day, what would appear on that job description,. That is so important because you know basically how to make it a no brainer for you to be promoted before you actually receive the promotion.