Career and Leadership Development for Men

While at EY, I saw that career growth isn’t a straightforward upward climb. It’s more like a series of shifts, each requiring a different version of you. What worked for you early in your career, like the hustle, saying yes to everything, and constantly proving your worth, won’t always help you move forward. The hardest part about progress is letting go of what got you here. It’s not about learning new skills but unlearning the behaviors that served you before, which now hold you back. Here are 10 truths about letting go to move forward. #1. Early on, saying YES got you noticed, but learning to say NO earns you respect as you advance. Becoming more selective with your time and commitments signals maturity and focus. #2. Being indispensable is a trap because relying on yourself to do everything prevents growth. Effective leadership is about empowering others to succeed. #3. Perfection was your safety net, but leadership thrives on imperfection. Agility and decision-making are more important than flawless work. #4. Hard work opens doors, but strategic work keeps them open as you shift from effort to focus, aligning your actions with the bigger picture. #5. Mastering technical skills gives you confidence, but mastering influence and decision-making gives you power and keeps you in leadership roles. #6. Doing more won’t get you ahead, but owning outcomes and driving results shows leadership and progress. #7. Pleasing everyone makes you liked, but standing firm in your convictions earns trust and respect, even if it means disagreement. #8. Being available 24/7 showed commitment, but protecting your time and setting boundaries teaches others to value your focus and priorities. #9. Fitting in felt safe, but standing out accelerates growth as it requires risk-taking and the courage to challenge the status quo. #10. Seeking approval keeps you in the game, but seeking impact shifts the focus from validation to making a difference and driving results. Growth isn’t about adding more skills; it’s about shedding the habits that once felt necessary.

Here's the promotion strategy most professionals completely miss: being amazing at your current job doesn't automatically get you promoted. I see this mistake constantly. People think exceptional performance equals advancement, but that's not how promotion decisions actually work. Companies don't promote you for mastering your current role - they promote you when you've already proven you can handle the next level. Here's the strategic shift you need to make: Stop waiting for recognition of past achievements. Start demonstrating future capabilities right now. How to operate at the next level before you get there: 1. Think beyond your immediate responsibilities - Understand broader business challenges and opportunities. Your perspective needs to expand beyond your current scope. 2. Contribute strategic insights, not just status updates - During meetings, present solutions and analysis, not just task completion reports. 3. Communicate with next-level authority - Present solutions, not just problems. Your communication style should reflect the level you want, not where you are. 4. Take initiative on stretch projects - Demonstrate leadership capability before receiving the formal title. Show them you can handle increased responsibility. The visibility factor is everything: Companies promote people who have already proven they can handle more responsibility, not those who might be capable with proper development. By consistently operating at your desired level, you make promotion the logical next step rather than a developmental risk. You eliminate the guesswork about your readiness and position yourself as the obvious choice when opportunities arise. What strategies have you found most effective for demonstrating readiness for advancement? Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/3ycta #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #careeradvancement #promotionstrategies #leadershipdevelopment #careerstrategist

My Leadership career transformed by doing this: I used to solve every problem myself. And this caused me to burn out. Then I started mentoring and coaching my team. And it shifted everything. When you lift others up, Life has a way of helping you succeed. Most leaders try to be indispensable. Smart leaders make others capable. My experience in the C-suite taught me this: 1.Delegate meaningful projects, not just busy work. 2. Share your network to help team members grow their careers. 3. Ask "How can I support your goals?" Then actually follow through. 4. Remember their career aspirations And create opportunities for them. 5. Highlight their wins in leadership meetings. 6. Celebrate their promotions like personal victories. 7. Teach them skills that make them more valuable. 8. Shield them from unnecessary politics and drama No complex leadership theories. No management tactics. Just developing your people. The transformation was incredible. My stress dropped, my team flourished, and my own career accelerated faster than ever. The more you help others become leaders, the more your influence grows. If you want to increase your influence as a leader, this will help you out : read.drdegnan.com