The Uncommon Executive

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My "go-to" Exercise For Structuring Complex Interview Questions On The Spot
An easy way to learn how to structure responses to a complex executive concern or interview question on the spot. Practice wherever 5 minutes a day!
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Yue Zhao
How To Frame Your Ideas So They Are Heard
You've done the work on an idea but it doesn't get the buy-in you need. Here are two proven ways to reframe your approach.
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Yue Zhao
1
How Confidence Is Self-Fulfilling in High-stakes Conversations
When you lead with confidence, others are more confident in your leadership. Here are 5 tactical things you can do to increase your confidence in your…
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Yue Zhao
1
How To Survive Manager Changes
When you get a new manager, treat it like a new job. Slow down your "work" and invest time in relationship building, goal-setting, and alignment.
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Yue Zhao
2
Your Career Growth Is Not Your Manager's Top Priority - And What To Do About It
At higher levels in the organizations, your manager has increasingly less direct influence on your promotions. Instead, investing in relationships and…
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Yue Zhao
7
How To Not Get Pulled Back In After Empowering Others
Loss of control, fear of the unknown, and inbounds from the team secretly pull us back into the weeds. Work on your mindset and team coaching tactics to…
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Yue Zhao
1
6 Ways To Tackle Unexpected Questions From Executives
When you get caught off guard, focus on bringing your logical thinking back on line, don't worry too much about thinking out loud, and remember to phone…
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Yue Zhao
1
How To Communicate What Really Matters In Leadership Interviews
Start with the motivation. Identify the question behind the question. Tailor your responses to the audience. And don't forget to frame your case in the…
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Yue Zhao
2
3 Common Reasons Your Manager Will Fail You During Promotions And How To Have A Back Up Plan
Promotions at the senior levels are as much about relationships and perception as it is about performance. Invest the time to advocacy outside your…
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Yue Zhao
4
How Fear of Doing Worse Holds Us Back From True Career Growth
Things will get more uncomfortable and worse before it gets better. Here's how to conquer your fear of failure and put yourself in positions to grow and…
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Yue Zhao
2
"I'm not technical enough" is Rarely the Real Problem
Rather than jumping to trying to be more technical, find the underlying issue this feedback is masking, and solve that instead.
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Yue Zhao
6
Being Collaborative May Hurt Your Chances For Promotion
Spending too much time on collaboration and being well-liked will hurt your ability to make progress in your career.
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Yue Zhao
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