Best of 2024: Getting Promoted, Leading Teams, and Managing Up

Recap of some of my best posts from 2024 on leadership, and career challenges.

(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Teddy the Reindeer-Corgi, Barcelona, Spain)

As we near the holiday season, I encourage everyone to unwind and reflect on the year.

Where were you at the end of December 2023?

What dreams did you have coming into 2024?

What were your worries? Which ones were realized? Which ones were not?

What surprises came up along the way?

We’re often running so fast to the next thing in our lives. We fail to slow down and appreciate what we have accomplished and remind our brains in fear that those fears (mostly) didn’t happen. Take the time to appreciate and build confidence in yourself.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth year-in-review tool to support you in this process, my favorite is from Downshift.

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Coaching Corner

• I am hosting an AMA for my group coaching program, The Uncommon Executive Leadership Launchpad at the end of January. The next open cohort starts in March. Sign up here.

• The next Monthly Office Hours with Yue is January 16, 2025. Sign up here. We had the one for December yesterday and covered some great topics including:

  • Getting recognized for bringing visibility to strategic work you are supporting outside the typical scope

  • Supporting colleagues vs taking on too much of their work

  • Performing well, feeling valued and appreciated, but no signs of promotion

• My dance card for 1:1 sessions is filling up for early next year. Some corporate clients are taking multiple coaching slots. If you’re interested in coaching with me in the Feb/March time, please schedule an intro call for mid-January when I’m back!

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This week, rather than a new post, I wanted to share with you my most popular posts on leadership, team performance, combating bias women and minorities face, getting promoted, and more. A form of “best of 2024” organized by theme. Enjoy!

How do I increase the perception of my seniority at my work?

1. ​How You Communicate Signals Your Seniority​​

2. ​Executive Presence - How to Level Up and Express the Authentic you​​

3. ​How to Answer Questions Strategically with Executives

4. Executive Potential Means Shifting The Altitude of the Conversation

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How do I better manage up?

1. How to Manage Leaders Who Change Their Minds Frequently

2. How to Maximize Your Relationship With Your Manager

3. ​How to Escalate Well

4. ​How to Meet and Connect with Your Senior Leaders

How do I get promoted in the next 6-12 months?

1. ​Passed Over for Promotion. Will it happen in the next 6 months?

2. The art of securing sponsorship in the workplace

3. How to anticipate and come out ahead in reorgs

4. How can I boost my performance rating?

What unique strengths and challenges do women and minority leaders face?

1. ​Founder Mode, Innovation, and Why Women Are Well-Positioned To Lead

2. How to Fight Your People-Pleasing Tendencies

3. How To Get out of Thankless Work

4. Secret Ways to Accelerate Your Career As A Female Leader

5. ​6 Lessons in Leadership from Parenting

How can I increase my team’s performance?​

1. ​Solve "Too Many Meetings" to Increase Team Morale​

2. ​How To Create Team Values That Drive Performance

3. How To Delegate Well

4. ​Leading Well When You Are Not the Expert

How can I change jobs without losing career momentum?

1. ​​7 Tactics to Gain Momentum When Transitioning Careers

2. How I Transitioned into Management — Twice​

3. How Your Manager’s Growth Potential And Willingness To Share Power Affects Your Career Trajectory

How can I improve my mental health and resilience?

1. How Task Completion Decreases Anxiety

2. Approaching Bias With Curiosity

3. How to Say No to Non-Promotable Tasks and Avoid Burnout

How do I build more impactful products?

1. ​Landing Executive & Strategy Without Burning Out

2. ​​CPTO: A role every company should consider? (with Engineering Leadership)

3. ​Annual Planning is the Time to Show Up and Get Noticed

For more, check out the Archives of The Uncommon Executive. I promise there's some good stuff in there. =)

I will be taking two weeks off from new posts for this newsletter (and my general coaching services).

See you back on January 9, 2025!

Yue