Pearls On, Gloves Off

#64 - Why Playing by the Rules Won’t Get You Promoted

Mar 19, 2025

Kathy Dockry, a seasoned leadership coach and former CEO of a major British energy company, shares insights on what it takes for high-achieving professionals to stand out. She emphasizes that simply doing your job well isn't enough for promotions; mastering the art of influence and storytelling is crucial. Kathy discusses the importance of developmental coaching and feedback, how learning agility predicts success, and offers strategies for self-promotion and articulating value, all aimed at elevating careers in competitive environments.

47:19

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Kathy Dockry

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Quick takeaways

Understanding the distinction between developmental and behavioral coaching is essential for high-potential leaders aiming to accelerate their career growth.

Building visibility and a compelling personal narrative within an organization is vital for professionals to showcase their unique value and leadership potential.

Deep dives

Understanding Developmental Coaching

Distinguishing between developmental and behavioral coaching is crucial for targeting leadership growth. Developmental coaching aims to elevate already competent professionals who aspire to excel further, particularly in high-stakes roles, as opposed to merely correcting specific behaviors. This approach aligns with organizations' needs to nurture talented individuals that could potentially rise to leadership positions, allowing for investment in their ongoing development. By integrating a sports coaching mentality, the focus shifts from merely improving skills to fostering continuous improvement and achieving personal excellence.

Intro

3min

Navigating Corporate Coaching: Development vs. Behavior

11min

The Power of Feedback: Shaping Perception for Career Growth

2min

Navigating Workplace Visibility and Personal Branding

4min

Articulating Value: A Formula for Legal Professionals

2min

The Power of Storytelling and Presence in Leadership

18min

Mastering Persuasion in Presentations

8min

Today, Mary sits down with Kathy Dockry, a seasoned leadership coach who has spent over 20 years accelerating the success of high-achieving professionals on their journey to executive leadership.

Before stepping into the world of coaching, Kathy was a corporate powerhouse herself, rising to become CEO and North American President of a major British energy company. But she didn’t start there—her roots are in law. Having worked as a litigator in two large New York firms and serving as a general counsel before transitioning into operational leadership, Kathy understands firsthand the challenges legal professionals face as they navigate their careers.

In this episode, Kathy unpacks the key skills that separate high-potential leaders from those who plateau. Whether you’re looking to develop a powerful leadership presence, master the art of influence, or learn how to tell your career story in a way that makes your value impossible to ignore, Kathy shares actionable insights that every legal professional can use to take their career to the next level.

In this episode:

Developmental vs. Behavioral Coaching: Understanding the difference and why developmental coaching is critical for high achievers.
How to Stand Out: Why simply doing your job well isn’t enough—and what it really takes to get noticed and promoted.
The Power of Learning Agility: How embracing discomfort and taking on new challenges is the ultimate predictor of long-term success.
Mastering Influence and Persuasion: The three essential skills that can make or break your career trajectory.
Why Storytelling Matters: How to communicate your value in a way that leaders actually pay attention to.
Navigating Office Politics: Practical strategies for managing up, building relationships, and positioning yourself for leadership roles.
The Value Formula: A simple framework to articulate the impact of your work and make it clear why you’re indispensable.

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