Not getting the promotion? You might be chasing the wrong thing.
You know that quote - "What you seek is seeking you"?
Yeah. I love it. And also, it kind of smacks me in the face when I remember how often I’ve been seeking the wrong thing.
Here’s something I’ve been seeing with clients (and... with my past self, if I’m honest):
7 out of 10 people say they want a promotion.
3 out of 10 says they want to actually get better.
That’s not a stat from Harvard. Just a vibe from 1000+ coaching convos.
And the difference?
It’s not ambition. It’s not talent. It’s not even timing.
It’s locus of control.
Are you waiting for someone to tell you you’re ready?
Or are you quietly (or loudly) deciding to get ready - yourself?
I’ve seen both. Hell, I’ve been both.
One version of me was tweaking decks at 10pm, hoping this was the quarter I’d get tapped.
Another version started asking better questions:
>>> What am I building here?
>>> What kind of leader do I actually want to become?
That second one? She started sleeping better. And weirdly...getting noticed more.
So here’s the shift:
Promotion-chasers ask: “What do I need to do to get the next title?”
Growth-seekers ask: “What if I just started leading like I already had it?”
One is waiting for permission.
The other is too busy becoming someone they’re proud of.
You don’t get promoted into leadership.
You practice your way there.
Every weird, awkward, brave little day.
And if you’ve been feeling stuck- flat, maybe a little annoyed you keep getting passed over - it’s not a character flaw. It’s just a signal.
It’s time to shift the focus inward.
Because when you stop chasing the role, and start showing up as the person -
That role starts chasing you.
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Want a 5-minute reflection I give to execs to help flip that internal switch?
Reply with “GROWTH” and I’ll send it your way.
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My best, always,
Shar
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