One of the biggest career misconceptions I encounter is the belief that promotions are earned solely through hard work and results. It's a comforting idea. Do great work, exceed expectations, take care of your team, and eventually someone will notice. But that's not how most promotion decisions get made. Promotions are future-looking decisions, not rewards for past performance. Leaders aren't promoted because of what they've already accomplished. They're promoted because decision-makers...

Eve Enslow, Founder & CEO One of the most damaging career myths I've encountered is the belief that great work speaks for itself. We want to believe that if we work hard, deliver results, and support our teams, the right people will notice and opportunities will follow. Eventually, our reputation will catch up to our performance. That's not how careers work. Over the years, I've worked with countless high-performing leaders who were respected, capable, and consistently delivered results. Yet...

I opened my latest roundtable with something I keep hearing from leaders: “I feel like I’m spending my one-on-ones being a therapist. I need to change that.” That tension is real right now. My co-host @Ann-Marie said it clearly: “Leaders are like a squished sandwich. They’re leading up and leading down, and everyone is looking to them for stability.” People are bringing more of their lives into work. What’s changed is the intensity and the language. Leaders are unsure how far to go. So, they...