"When They Say You’re Not Ready for That Promotion but You’re Already Doing the Work, Try THIS Instead."
The Room You’re Not In
Imagine this: You’ve spent months driving a project to success, overcoming obstacles, and delivering measurable results. Yet, when it’s time to present the outcomes to senior leadership, someone else is given the spotlight—or worse, no one even knows you were behind the success.
Sound familiar? For many first-generation and female professionals - and I get it, this isn’t just a frustrating scenario—it’s an ongoing battle for visibility. The reality is, that excelling at your job isn’t enough. Leadership influence requires deliberate strategies to ensure your work is not only noticed but valued at the highest levels.
If you’ve ever felt stuck behind a ceiling, invisible despite your contributions, or uncertain about how to position yourself for leadership trust, this is your playbook. Let’s rewrite that narrative, starting today.
What Does “Influencing Senior Leadership” Really Mean?
Leadership influence isn’t about impressing the higher-ups with flashy presentations or talking over others in meetings. It’s about showing up as a strategic thinker, aligning your efforts with organizational priorities, and ensuring that your impact is seen and remembered.
It’s a blend of these elements:
Strategic Value: Connecting your contributions directly to business goals.
Proactive Advocacy: Ensuring your ideas, achievements, and potential are communicated effectively to the right people.
Relationship Building: Creating meaningful connections with decision-makers and allies who can amplify your voice.
Irrefutable Alignment: This means daily, in meetings, and any other time you focus on making it clear that you are the perfect fit for the next job you want.
Let’s break this down into actionable steps you can take right now to move from being “just another contributor” to becoming a trusted advisor.
1. Build Strategic Visibility by Creating Leadership Briefs
Stop waiting for someone to notice your contributions—package your work in a way that speaks to leadership priorities. Every time you complete a project or hit a major milestone, create a 1-page “Leadership Brief.”
What to Include in Your Brief:
Headline Impact: Start with a bold statement that immediately highlights the value of your work. Example: “Streamlined onboarding process cut team training time by 30%.”
Key Metrics: Use specific data to back up your claims. Leaders love numbers.
Strategic Alignment: End with how your work supports a broader company goal (e.g., increasing operational efficiency, meeting quarterly KPIs).
Distribute these briefs proactively—email them to your manager before performance reviews, or bring them as leave-behinds for meetings with senior leaders. This positions you as someone who connects their efforts to the bigger picture.
2. Master the 30-second Executive Elevator Update
Executives don’t have time to sift through details. You need to learn how to present your ideas or updates concisely and effectively. Craft a 30-second script that highlights:
The Problem: What’s the pain point or opportunity?
The Solution: What action did you take or propose?
The Result: What was the measurable outcome?
Example:“In Q3, we noticed a 15% increase in onboarding delays due to inconsistent documentation. My team developed a standardized checklist, reducing delays by 30%. This ensures faster team integration and supports our Q4 goal of operational efficiency.”
Practice this until it feels natural. Use it during casual conversations with leaders, in meetings, or even in passing in the hallway.
3. Build Strategic Allies with a ‘Sponsor Map’
One of the most underrated career tools is having a sponsor—someone in leadership who actively advocates for your growth. Build a “Sponsor Map” to identify key players in your organization who can elevate your visibility.
How to Create a Sponsor Map:
List Potential Sponsors: Look for leaders who influence promotions, resource allocation, or visibility in your organization.
Identify Overlapping Goals: What company initiatives or priorities do you share with these leaders?
Plan Engagement: Find organic ways to connect—whether through cross-functional meetings, project collaboration, or even informal chats.
The goal isn’t to “impress” but to show alignment and offer value. For example: “I noticed you’re spearheading the diversity hiring initiative. I’d love to contribute by sharing strategies from a project we successfully implemented last year.”
4. Make Yourself Unmissable with a Quarterly ‘Impact Share’
Don’t just let your work speak for itself—speak for your work. Every quarter, schedule a short, focused meeting with your manager to discuss your contributions.
Structure of Your Quarterly Share:
Wins: Highlight 2-3 major achievements with specific results.
Future Plans: Share how you plan to build on those wins to tackle upcoming priorities.
Request Feedback: End by asking, “Is there anything else I could focus on to better align with leadership goals?”
This positions you as someone who’s both proactive and receptive—two traits senior leaders value immensely.
5. Flip the Script on 'Not Ready for Leadership' Narratives
If you’ve been told you’re “not ready” for a promotion despite already doing the work, it’s time to take a bold step. Instead of waiting for permission, approach your manager with a clear value case:
Outline Your Contributions: “In the last year, I led X initiatives, resulting in [specific outcomes].”
Propose the Next Step: “Based on my track record, I believe I’m ready to take on [specific role or responsibility].”
Ask for Support: “What steps can I take to ensure alignment with this goal?”
This not only positions you as confident and self-aware but also puts the onus on leadership to provide actionable feedback—or risk losing a high-value contributor.
Your Next Steps
Leadership influence is about more than hard work—it’s about strategic visibility, effective communication, and meaningful relationships. Start with these steps:
Create your first Leadership Brief for a recent project.
Identify one potential sponsor and reach out to connect.
Practice your 30-second executive elevator update and use it this week.
Each action positions you as a proactive, strategic professional who doesn’t just meet expectations but redefines them.
Enough playing small. You’ve worked too hard to feel overlooked, undervalued, or stuck behind a professional ceiling. Feeling stuck in your career is exhausting—but let me remind you: it’s not where your story ends.
Since 2018, I’ve helped thousands of ambitious women like you reclaim their confidence, develop winning strategies, and secure their place in rooms where decisions are made. You don’t need to sacrifice your authenticity to achieve the promotions, raises, and respect you’ve earned.
It’s time to turn that career plateau into a launchpad. Together, we’ll rewrite your career story—on your terms, with no compromises. Don’t let another opportunity slip by. When doors open, they won’t just include you; they’ll be designed with you in mind.
Subscribe to “Power Up Your Career” newsletter today, and take the first step toward the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. Let’s make this your moment to shine.
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