Who Speaks for You When You're Not in the Room?

As you grow higher in your career, you notice that decisions about your career could happen when you're not in the room:

• Who gets the stretch assignment?

• Who gets sponsored for the senior role?

• Who gets protected when cuts are made?

If there is someone to say your name in a room full of opportunities, your growth trajectory could be different.

So when you ask the question 'who speaks for you when you're not in the room?' to yourself,

the answer may surprise or shock you.

That's the moment you realise, the relationships you didn't invest in, are the ones you need most for your growth now.

What got you here is prioritisation:

• Execution over Connection.

• Task over people.

• Linearity over possibility.

None of it is wrong. Just that they alone do not work any more.

What not do now:

• Convert the problem into a 'building visibility' task.

• Fake your way through 'networking'.

• Get it done somehow.

What can give you better results?

1. Start with honesty & clarity

   • Do you really want to build relationships that are mutually valuable?

   • Are you willing to put up with discomfort?

   • Who have you taken for granted?

   • What do you want to do about it?

2. Prioritise Quality over quantity

   • Who are the people you want to re-build your connection with?

   • How many people will you genuinely connect over a quarter for no reason except to connect?

   • How would you keep up the connection?

3. What is the smallest action will you take today to build genuine connection?

Starting with honesty would get you progress that is real.

What's one work relationship you'll invest in this week?

#coaching #executivecoaching #leadership #seniorleadership #relationships