The Happy Engineer | Career Success for Engineering Leadership

189: Accelerate Promotion by Avoiding a Common Phase 2 Trap

Oct 7, 2024

Discover how to transform your approach to performance reviews and promotions. Learn from the story of an engineering leader who broke free from feeling stuck by focusing on what he could contribute at the next level. Instead of fixating on performance gaps, understand the importance of showcasing your achievements. This shift in mindset can unlock new career growth opportunities and accelerate your path to promotion. Tune in for practical insights to elevate your promotion strategy!

23:12

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Quick takeaways

Focusing on current achievements rather than perceived skill gaps can significantly enhance one's potential for career advancement and promotions.

Shifting conversations from identifying deficiencies to demonstrating readiness for higher-level contributions is vital for effective engineering leadership growth.

Deep dives

Understanding Career Stagnation

Focusing on perceived gaps in skills and qualifications can hinder career advancement and create frustration. An engineering leader named Daniel exemplifies this struggle as he seeks to elevate from a senior manager to a director role while feeling stuck observing his peers receive promotions. Rather than solely concentrating on what he lacks, Daniel learns the importance of assessing his current accomplishments and aligning them with the necessary criteria for the next level. This reflection encourages a healthier approach to career growth, emphasizing awareness over mere comparison to others.

Navigating Promotion: Shifting from Gaps to Readiness

23min

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:

1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational insights you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.

2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.

3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our exclusive coaching program for engineering leaders, The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️.

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In this episode, I dive into the challenges of performance reviews and how to shift your approach to accelerate your next promotion.

I share a story about Daniel, an engineering leader who felt stuck in his career, frustrated by seeing his peers get promoted while he remained in the same role. The key insight? It’s not about constantly asking what gaps you need to close—it’s about demonstrating that you’re already performing at the next level.

By shifting the conversation with leadership from "what's missing" to "what more can I contribute at the next level," Daniel unlocked new growth in his career. I’ll walk you through how to make this same shift.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to elevate your promotion strategy!

> Full Show Notes, Resources, & More

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The Happy Engineer | Career Success for Engineering Leadership

189: Accelerate Promotion by Avoiding a Common Phase 2 Trap