Words of Distinction

How to Get a Promotion by Leading from Behind

Posted on January 5, 2023January 17, 2023 by Emily Wong

“I’m just an individual contributor.”

Oh, how many times have I heard that, only to dig deeper to find that these unassuming clients were actually movers and shakers.

A sampling:

The senior tech manager who convinced C-suite leaders to invest in new software—and helped propel the company toward its goals.

The account manager who unified teams across marketing, operations, and finance to support a key sales initiative that sparked 10X millions of dollars in revenue—and established trust for future high-ROI projects.

The volunteer fundraiser who built and nurtured hundreds of donor relationships—while creating innovative revenue-generating community events—to guarantee a long-term competitive high school music program.

The engineering/client liaison who skillfully uncovered the true needs of the customer, articulated those needs to the engineering team, and then distilled the technical requirements back to the client.

These employees sound like leaders to me.

Even if you’ve never formally led a team, you may have more to say about your ability to lead than you realize.

I recently had a client who epitomized what it meant to lead from behind.

Take the Ick Out of Networking

Posted on May 6, 2021November 23, 2021 by Emily Wong

Ok, so not everyone thinks networking is icky. Some people love the social element and the idea of (sometimes) free food.

But a lot of us would prefer not to have to mingle over coffee with people we don’t know. And now that it looks like we’re turning the corner with the pandemic, we’ll be have to mingle more as we move toward in-person events.

Here are a few ideas that might help you ease into the new back-to-normal:

1: Start With People You Know

If you’re feeling anxious about jumping into an event without knowing a soul, look for those where you already have a connection, or find a friend or colleague to go with you. One caveat: do not spend the event with that person. Sure, you can pop in and out of their conversations, but remember, they aren’t the reason you’re there.