Secrets of the Career Game

Success can fade into invisibility if you don't track your accomplishments. High performers often forget months of work by review time, but there's a way to combat this. Kendall Berg discusses linking tasks to company goals and emphasizing impact over mere tasks. He shares practical tips on logging collaborations, gathering feedback, and tracking metrics that prove your value. Learn how this meticulous approach can save time, reduce stress during reviews, and enhance your career visibility. Get ready to take control of your professional narrative!

Hitting every goal should feel like progress. Instead, it often leaves high performers stuck, frustrated, and quietly falling behind. Kendall Berg breaks down why traditional goal setting systems like OKRs and KPIs reward performance optics while hiding the problems leaders actually need to see. In this conversation with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, Kendall challenges the belief that better metrics lead to better decisions. They unpack why green numbers can create dangerous blind spots, how teams learn to filter bad news, and why leaders become the last to know when strategy is breaking down. The episode introduces a smarter alternative to goal chasing that helps teams surface real issues, think more strategically, and stay aligned as priorities shift. Radhika shares her puzzle setting and puzzle solving framework, a practical way to replace false certainty with curiosity, learning, and iteration. Instead of obsessing over targets, leaders learn how to frame the right questions, invite honest feedback, and guide teams through uncertainty without losing credibility or control. This episode is essential listening for professionals who want to move from execution to influence and lead with clarity in fast changing environments. In this episode, we discuss: Why do OKRs and KPIs hide problems instead of revealing them? How does hitting every goal still lead to stalled career growth? What is the puzzle setting method and how does it replace goal chasing? How can leaders admit uncertainty without losing authority? What is the first step to changing goal driven cultures without resistance? FREE toolkit for puzzle-setting and puzzle-solving: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit Follow Radhika Dutt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_

Being busy is not the same thing as moving forward in your career. In 2026, growth comes from alignment, not effort. If your goals are not tied to what your company is actually measured on, they will not move your career forward. Kendall breaks down how to set career goals that match company priorities like AI, efficiency, and revenue so your work gets noticed and rewarded. This episode lays out a clear goal-setting playbook for high performers who want impact without burnout. Kendall explains how to use an impact versus effort filter, set boundaries that protect capacity, anchor goals in leadership identity, and start promotion conversations early so expectations are clear. This is how you plan 2026 with intention and position yourself for real momentum. In this episode, we discuss: How do I align my career goals with company priorities in 2026? What is the impact versus effort method for goal setting at work? When should promotion conversations start? What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_

Strong performance does not automatically translate into influence at work. Many high performers deliver results yet still get misread, underestimated, or quietly sidelined. That gap is where careers slow down, not because of skill, but because leadership presence and perception do not always match capability. Kendall sits down with Tracy Nolan to break down what actually moves careers forward in fast changing corporate environments. Tracy draws from decades of executive leadership across Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and healthcare to explain why continuous learning is nonnegotiable, how leaders earn credibility without overspeaking, and what it really takes to lead with strength and compassion at the same time. They unpack subtle behaviors that signal authority in meetings, the hidden cost of coasting, and why career ownership is a personal responsibility, not your company's job. This conversation also tackles bias, crisis leadership, and performance management without sugarcoating. Tracy shares how transparent communication builds trust during uncertainty, why tailored feedback matters more than one size leadership, and how honest conversations protect both people and teams. If you want to stay relevant, lead with confidence, and build long term career momentum, this episode delivers clarity without corporate fluff. In this episode, we discuss: Why do high performers get stuck even when results are strong How leadership presence shapes credibility in meetings What helps women overcome bias at senior levels How to lead with authority and compassion during crisis Why owning your career matters more than waiting for promotion paths What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_ Tracy Nolan is a transformative leader with deep experience across Fortune 100 companies and healthcare. Currently at Humana, she draws on past executive roles at Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, where she led 24,000 employees through the Sprint/T-Mobile merger during COVID-19 and pioneered initiatives like Verizon's $300M wireless trade-in business. Tracy's leadership style blends high expectations with deep compassion. She believes leadership is never static: you're either moving forward or backward. Tracy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyenolan/

Office politics is not optional. It is the job if you want director-level and above. Ignore it, and you stay the hardest working person in the room with the least control over what gets decided. This episode breaks down office politics the way high performers actually need it explained: not gossip or brown-nosing, but influence, stakeholder management, and reputation. Kendall walks you through the three parts that quietly run every organization: conflict management, so another team or a rival does not quietly take ownership of your work; collaboration, so the people who shape decisions are aligned with you early; and reputation, so your name keeps opening doors. You will also learn how to spot power centers that do not match the org chart, and why the meeting is never the first place your idea should be introduced. Pre-wire first, then present. And if you want to do this without feeling fake, Kendall makes it simple. Follow through builds trust faster than charisma. One-on-ones create allies before you need favors. Give your team credit out loud and protect them from getting thrown into senior leadership too early. That is what real influence looks like when you have integrity. In this episode, we discuss: Why does avoiding office politics keep you stuck in middle management? How do I find the real power centers at work that influence decisions? What is the best way to pre-wire stakeholders before a big meeting? How do I push back respectfully without damaging my reputation? How can leaders build trust and influence through one-on-ones and follow through? What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_

Career growth feels harder when you're doing everything "right" and still not seeing momentum. Kendall breaks down why traditional goal setting quietly stalls your progress and why the real catalysts for advancement are systems, identity, and daily habits that actually fit your work life. She shares how high achievers unintentionally set themselves up for burnout, why New Year energy fades so quickly, and what sustainable growth looks like for ambitious professionals who want more clarity, confidence, and consistency. Kendall walks through how to design systems that support the career identity you're building, how to create daily wins that increase motivation, and how to shift from chasing outcomes to becoming the kind of person who grows naturally at work. If you've ever wondered why your goals don't translate into visible progress, this episode gives you the framework to fix that and step into the next level of your leadership. In this episode, we discuss: Why goals don't create sustainable career growth How to build a system for habits that actually stick What "career identity" means and how to define your future self How small daily wins increase motivation and visibility What to do when you feel stuck despite working hard What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_

Kendall digs into the truth about career growth with Julie DeLucca Collins, a coach who teaches that real leadership begins long before a title. Julie explains why self-leadership, emotional regulation, and a strong leadership mindset are the foundation of confidence at work and mid-career growth. They talk about the discomfort that comes with asking questions, navigating rejection, and showing influence before anyone gives you formal authority. Together, they unpack the tiny habits that create career confidence, sustainable progress, and better work-life integration. Julie shares her evidence notebook method, a simple tool that rewires your brain to see your own progress and build visibility at work. If you are feeling stuck in a mid-career plateau or working to rebuild confidence after setbacks, this conversation gives you a practical and empowering path forward. In this episode, we discuss: • How do I rebuild confidence at work when I feel stuck • What are the best tiny habits for career growth • How can I break a mid-career plateau and progress faster • What is self-leadership, and why does it matter before promotion • How do I improve emotional regulation and resilience at work If you feel stuck in a mid-career plateau, this conversation reveals the tiny habits and self-leadership skills that rebuild confidence and accelerate growth. What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_ Julie DeLucca-Collins is a dynamic business strategist and coach dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs to build profitable, purpose-driven businesses. As the founder of Go Confidently Services, and Casa De Confidence Productions, she combines her expertise as a successful C-level executive who has excelled in growing successful business, Tiny Habits®, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, and Holistic Life Coaching to help clients develop confidence, build profitable business, launch and grow podcasts while becoming in demand thought leaders. Julie is the #1 award-winning author of *Confident You*, a TEDx speaker, and a Top 50 Over 50 Podcaster. She has been featured on ABC, NBC, and FOX and cohosts the globally ranked Casa De Confidence podcast with her husband Dan. Website and Social Media links: · Website - https://goconfidentlycoaching.com/ · LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/goconfidentlyjulie/ · Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/julie_deluccacollins/ · Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jdelucca · Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/juliedelco/ · Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@juliedeluccacollins · YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JulieDeLuccaCollins/streams

If you feel like you're failing at work and at home, Kendall explains why the problem isn't you — it's the myth you're trying to live up to. She breaks down why "balance" was never realistic, how it fuels guilt and burnout, and why integration offers a more practical, sustainable path forward. Through personal stories and real client examples, Kendall shows how aligning your values, redefining success, and embracing trade-offs can transform both your career trajectory and how you feel day to day. She also shares how to choose one meaningful goal without creating chaos, why flexibility matters more than equal time division, and how to set success metrics that actually reflect what matters to you. This episode is your permission to drop perfection, rethink how you measure progress, and build a career that genuinely supports the life you want. ⭐ In this episode, we discuss: What happens when you chase balance in a world that doesn't operate that way How to integrate career and personal values without losing your mind Why flexibility matters more than equal time across your roles How to define success using only three measurable goals What trade offs look like for real professionals and parents today What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Corporate politics isn't about manipulation, it's about relationships. Learn how to master workplace dynamics, communicate clearly, and build trust fast. In this 5-minute episode, career coach Kendall Berg breaks down the unspoken rules that shape every workplace. She explains why likability, clarity, and reciprocity matter more than hard work when it comes to getting promoted—and how to use those skills to build influence without playing games. You'll discover how to: ✅ Adapt your communication style so people actually listen ✅ Build trust with leaders and coworkers through small, consistent actions ✅ Navigate office politics without feeling fake or drained ✅ Avoid information overload and keep your message clear ✅ Turn networking from something awkward into something strategic Whether you're early in your career or leading a team, this quick breakdown helps you understand the real mechanics of corporate success—so you can advance confidently and keep your sanity intact. What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

So many brilliant women get stuck at director level because they're too good at their jobs. That's the quiet trap executive coach Katy McFee breaks down in this episode of Secrets of the Career Game. Kendall Berg sits with Katy to unpack the habits, mindset shifts, and strategic practices women need to finally be seen as leaders instead of doers. Katy shares what actually signals VP readiness, why "be more strategic" is useless guidance, and how high-performing women accidentally pigeonhole themselves as execution machines. Kendall and Katy dig into deep work, real-time feedback, and the identity shifts required to show up as a strategic leader — not just the person who saves the day. If you feel like you've been doing everything right and still not getting promoted, this episode gives you the clarity and momentum you've been missing. In this episode, we discuss: Why do women get stuck at the director level What does "be more strategic" actually mean How do you show executive presence at work Why doing more doesn't lead to promotion How to demonstrate VP readiness when no one tells you how What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Katy McFee is an executive coach and the founder of Insights to Action, where she helps high-performing women finally break through the Director-to-VP ceiling. With an 18-year career in biotech and tech, including senior roles where she drove nine-figure revenue growth, Katy knows firsthand what it takes to rise in male-dominated environments. Despite years of over-delivering, she was repeatedly passed over for promotion until she discovered the real barrier: perception, not performance. By shifting how she communicated and led, she landed her first VP role and was soon recruited as an EVP. Website: https://insightstoactioncc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee https://insightstoactioncc.com/vp-ready-quiz/