[sircastor]

It kind of sounds to me like you’re guessing what people are thinking instead of having actual data to work with. Have asked anyone what they think of you? And have you asked your manager/superior what the qualifications are for promotions?

I encourage everyone to be open and friendly. You get more social credit by being friendly. That credit extends into benefits like promotions and distribution of work (you might end up getting the fun project rather than the dull one). Demeanor is something you can change on a whim - even if you don’t really feel like it. I haven’t ever heard of someone not being taken seriously because they were friendly. And I’ve never heard of anyone not getting promoted because they seemed like a happy person.

People get promoted usually because they’re doing good work and it gets noticed. The reward for a good job is more work.