I hear it all the time:
“I'm doing the job, why won't they just give me the title?”
(Umm… I've said this in the past.)
“I'm hitting my targets, but there's no promotion in sight!”
“My boss kept telling me I'm doing ‘great' and to keep up the good work, but then promoted my colleague over me.”
These statements might sound like different problems to you, but in fact, they're all centered around the same issue. And that is: being so focused on doing your job well that you aren't focused on your career.
There are things that I see women do over and over that they assume are helping them, and are in fact hurting them!
And that's what I'm going to dive into in today's newsletter: 3 Ways you're hurting your career by focusing on your job.
Let's dive in…
1. Focusing (only) on success in your current role
Don't get me wrong, hitting targets and being successful in your existing role are table stakes for moving to the next level.
Here’s the problem: so many women I know are hyper-focused on excelling in their current role, and they're not increasing their scope or demonstrating that they are, in fact, ready to operate at the next level.
This is something I learned the hard way. Doing your job well doesn't get you promoted. It tells your manager that you're great at your current job. If you want to get promoted, you need to show them that you're ready to step into the next role.
You may have heard this before: the idea that crushing it in your current role, in fact, hurts your chances at getting promoted (because they don't want to lose you). The truth is, this typically isn't because you're doing well in your current role but instead because you're losing sight of the big picture: demonstrating to your boss that you're ready for what is next.
2. Working hard with your head down
I 100% fell into this trap. I thought that if I worked really hard, gave it my all, kept my head down, and stayed humble, the right people would notice and I would be recognized.
Occasionally, this will happen, but as you move up in your career, it will happen less and less. It's your job to create visibility into your wins and the impact you're creating so that leadership and the people around you see your value.
Many women I know shy away from drawing attention to their wins, but I want you to think about it another way:
It's helpful for your manager and other leaders to know what you're doing! It's helpful for your manager because then they can report it up the chain, and they don't have to chase you for updates and insights.
Here's your reframe: Instead of looking at it as bragging, think of it as providing helpful updates to your leader.
3. Focusing on work results, not relationships
This is another lesson that took me years to learn. And I see many women, especially in technical roles, make this same mistake.
We're so focused on our work product, on hitting or exceeding targets and getting things done, that we don’t take time to create relationships with key stakeholders in our organization (and maintain our network outside).
Maybe you have a great relationship with your boss, and you think that’s enough. Unfortunately, it’s not. Here's why:
1. Your boss may not be able to promote you without getting buy-in from other leaders.
2. Your boss may leave. They may get fired or choose to leave on their own.
3. Your boss may not be great at advocating for you.
One thing I discovered when I became a director and joined a leadership team was that when we wanted to promote someone, we had to bring it to the broader leadership team to get buy-in. When there were individuals on my team who had not created any visibility for themselves or nurtured relationships with other leaders, those leaders were more likely to doubt whether they were ready for a promotion.
The other reason to work on these relationships is that, as you move into senior leadership, being able to influence becomes more and more important. And one of the key elements of influence is connection. So spending time to create and nurture these connections is, in fact, strategic.
The next time you decide to skip grabbing coffee in the break room to sit at your desk and bang out 30 more minutes of work, I want you to remember this.
Reflection for this week:
Are you doing any of these things? If so, what's a step you can take to start focusing on your career and not just on your job??
If you like this content and want to learn more about how to do all of these things successfully and set yourself up for success in any senior role, you would love the Own Your Seat at the Table program!
Doors only open 2-3 times per year, and are closing on Tuesday at midnight. This is your last chance to put yourself first and get VP-ready (and thriving) in 2025.
Until next time friends… ✌️💜
Katy
