And here’s why you can’t afford to let anyone else hold the pen when it comes to writing your career story.
Let’s get uncomfortable for a minute.
You’re showing up.
You’re delivering.
You’re outperforming your peers.
And yet—you’re still not moving up.
You’ve taken the feedback, raised your hand for the stretch projects, stayed late, hit your numbers. And still… crickets.
If you’ve been waiting on your manager to recognize your brilliance and advocate for your promotion—you might be waiting forever.
Here’s the hard truth:
Your manager’s incompetence, lack of vision, or even fear of being outshined might be the reason you’re stuck.
1. Not All Managers Are Leaders
Some people are excellent individual contributors who got promoted into leadership with zero management training. Now, they don’t know how to grow anyone because they barely know how to lead themselves.
That means they’re not thinking about your development, your promotion timeline, or your next role.
They’re thinking about survival. Politics. Protecting their own spot.
You waiting on them to get it together? That’s a risk you can’t afford.
2. They Might Be Holding You Back—On Purpose
Some managers see your ambition as a threat.
Your growth? Their insecurity.
Your questions? Their discomfort.
Your excellence? A mirror to their mediocrity.
It’s wild, but true:
There are managers who will actively block your progress because they feel threatened by your potential.
3. Incompetence Looks Like… Silence
They don’t give feedback.
They don’t advocate for you during calibration or comp reviews.
They don’t submit you for stretch roles or succession planning.
And when you bring up promotion timelines?
You get vague answers. Or worse—excuses.
Here’s what that actually means:
They have no plan for you.
You’re not top of mind.
You’re invisible—because they let you be.
So What Do You Do?
✅ Own Your Career Like It’s a Business
You are the product. The CEO. The brand. The advocate.
Stop waiting for someone to do for you what you must do for yourself.
✅ Track Your Wins Like Receipts
Don’t assume people see your value.
Document everything. Quantify your impact.
Speak in results, not tasks.
✅ Ask for What You Want—Out Loud
Don’t hint.
Don’t hope.
Ask. Boldly. Repeatedly. Strategically.
✅ Set Timelines, Not Just Goals
“Here’s what I want” isn’t enough.
Try this:
“Here’s the impact I’ve delivered. I’m targeting a promotion to [insert role/title] within the next 6 months. What will it take to get there?”
If they can’t give a clear answer?
That is your answer.
✅ Don’t Be Afraid to Walk
Sometimes the biggest raise, the biggest promotion, the biggest glow-up happens when you change companies.
Loyalty is a beautiful thing—until it turns into self-sabotage.
Final Word:
No one is coming to save you. Not your manager. Not your HR business partner. Not the performance review process.
Your growth is your responsibility.
Your voice is your power.
Your next level is waiting.
But only if you make the move.
- Want more bold career advice? Subscribe to Working Title – a Career Newsletter for Future-forward thinkers
- Share this with someone who’s overdue for a promotion—and done waiting for permission.
