What I Tell My Clients: 7 Career Moves To Make Now

I work with ambitious leaders who want to go as far as they can in their careers. Even my most accomplished clients can get stuck waiting for the "right time," for opportunities to appear, waiting until “someday” to go after the bigger role, board seat, or career move they’ve been thinking about for years.

Why Hesitation Holds Leaders Back

Too many leaders sit back because they don’t want to be seen as:

• Greedy (“If I ask for more money, people will think I’m entitled”)

• Not a team player (“If I ask for coaching or stretch assignments, I’ll be seen as putting my needs above the company.")

• Ambitious in the wrong way (“If I raise my hand for a bigger role, others will think I’m trying to leapfrog them.”)

So they wait. They hope the right people will notice, or that the big opportunities will find them. Sometimes that works, but what I see is that at senior levels, waiting quietly is rarely rewarded.

We don’t have unlimited time, so consider these 7 practical steps you can take right now to keep advancing your career:

1. Find out if you’re on the succession plan. Don’t assume. Ask. If you’re not on it, knowing why can be the most valuable feedback you’ll ever get.

(A comment here: Most companies won't say directly, “Yes, you’re on the succession plan.” The key is finding the courage and willingness to explore the idea. One question you might try: "How do you think I'm perceived by the C-Suite and/or board?" Then, listen for specificity and seriousness in the responses. If you hear vagueness, hesitation, or generic praise, it’s may be a sign that there is work to be done.)

2. Decide what you really want. Some of my clients have clarity about what they want - but too many tell me, "I don't know." Needless to say, "I don't know" usually becomes a banned phrase in my work with leaders, because it keeps us completely stuck. (Side note: Start to pay attention to how many times you say some version of, "I don't know," or, "I'm not sure," or "Let me think about it," in a given day.)

3. Time to get after it. Whether it's that coaching you’ve said you wanted, exploring options in a different company, or pursuing a role you’ve talked about for years, stop delaying. Start really small if you have to, but start. Remember, there is never a right time, and you're always going to be busy.

4. Build a stronger team around you. If you're not sure where to start, I often suggest starting here. Strengthen your team internally, build your own 'dream team' externally with the best coaches, advisors, mentors, trainers, nutritionists, personal assistants...you decide.

5. Expand your circle. Work isn’t enough. Too many of my clients know too few people outside of their own companies. It's the thing you don't have time to do, but I urge you: Get on a plane, have dinner with people, join groups where others will challenge you and push your thinking.

6. You have to be your biggest advocate. Your company may support your career growth and development—but usually in areas they choose. That’s helpful, but don’t stop there. Nobody will care about your career as much as you.

7. Get creative. When you think you’ve “tried everything,” you haven't. It's too easy to give up and believe we've exhausted all options, but there is always another way.

At this stage of your career, progress is less about checking boxes and more about courage: the courage to be clear, to take risks, and to believe bigger for yourself.

👉 Want more ideas? Check out my work (I have dozens of articles, videos, and free resources at www.esuiteleader.com) or join E-Suite Impact, where we focus on these areas every week through live Master Classes and 1:1 coaching - final 2025 cohort starts October 23. Learn more and register today!