Promoted twice in 2 years without being a workaholic — herE's the actual strategy

I work roughly 9-to-6 with occasional exceptions. No late nights as a pattern. Two promotions in 24 months. Here's what I focused on instead of hours.

Solving problems my manager didn't want to deal with. Every manager has things they dread. I made it my job to identify and proactively resolve those things.

Making my work visible without being annoying. A short weekly written update: what I completed, what I planned next. Takes 10 minutes. Creates a trail of visible output.

Asking for feedback before annual review cycles. "What would you need to see from me to consider me ready for the next level?" asked 6 months before any review. Then doing exactly that.

Being useful in meetings, not just present. Came prepared with a perspective on every agenda item.