Morgan was a high-performing Senior Manager with a strong track record. She led complex projects, collaborated across teams, and had built a reputation for delivering reliably. She wasn’t chasing perfection - she was focused on impact.

But when the next-level role opened up, Morgan was passed over.

The feedback? “You’re doing great work. We just don’t quite see you in that next-level seat yet.”

She felt frustrated. She was doing everything she knew to do - and still, the path forward wasn’t opening. What other options did she have to progress?

This is a common pattern among mid-career professionals. The problem I see most often? It's when someone like Morgan spends most of their time performing or delivering in their role and not positioning themselves for their next career move.

The difference between performing and progressing

As we worked together, Morgan began to see what many experienced professionals eventually realize: the skills that help you succeed in your current role aren’t always the ones that move your career forward.

Most people spend 90 - 95% of their time in execution mode:

• Delivering outcomes
• Managing stakeholders
• Navigating complexity
• Keeping projects moving

All of that matters - but it’s not what accelerates your career.

Because the activities that drive career momentum often get sidelined. Things like:

• Building visibility with the right people
• Developing new capabilities aligned with future roles
• Creating experiences that signal readiness for more
• Practicing how to clearly articulate your value

The Career Investment Gap

The first step is to recognize what's going on. I recommend my clients take an audit of where their time, energy and talent is being spent.

Their work can be divided into two core categories: "Maintenance Work" designed to keep you performing in your current role and "Future Focused Work" that gives you the skills, network and experience to land your next promotion.

The purpose of "Future Focused Work" is to accelerate you to your next promotion, by laying the foundation now; not when the opportunity hits (because that's too late).

And in today’s economy, it's become even more important - from a financial perspective - to keep the momentum going.

In Canada, inflation remains high at 2.4% this fall - with essentials like housing and food climbing faster. In the U.S., 43% of professionals saw their pay grow slower than inflation in 2025.

If your career isn’t actively accelerating, you’re not standing still - you’re losing ground.

What actually prepares you for your next role?

Progress at the mid-career stage - Manager / Senior Manager / Director - requires a shift in how you operate and how you invest your time. Here are four core areas to focus on:

1. Network: Who’s positioned to advocate for you?

At this stage, visibility is strategic. Decisions about your career often happen when you’re not in the room, so someone else needs to be speaking on your behalf.

Ask:

• Who at the leadership level understands the scope and impact of my work?
• Have I built relationships with peers and cross-functional leaders who can vouch for me?
• Am I known outside my immediate function?

You don’t need a massive network, just the right people in the right places.

2. Skills: Can you operate at the next level of complexity?

Future roles demand more than what’s made you successful so far. They often require broader thinking, stronger influence, and deeper strategic capability.

Ask:

• Do I have the leadership and communication skills to navigate the next level?
• Can I connect my work to business-level outcomes, not just execution?
• Where do I need to grow to meet the expectations of the roles I want?

3. Experience: Have you demonstrated readiness, not just potential?

Skills suggest you can do the job. Experience proves you already operate at that level.

Ask:

• Have I led cross-functional initiatives or delivered at scale?
• Have I driven outcomes, not just executed tasks?
• Have I shown I can lead in uncertainty or change?

4. Story: Can you clearly communicate your value and direction?

Even if you’re qualified, people can’t promote what they don’t understand. Your narrative needs to be clear, compelling, and aligned with future opportunities.

Ask:

• Can I explain my impact and direction in one or two sentences?
• Do I have a story that connects my experience to what I want next?
• Would someone walk away from a conversation knowing what I’m great at and what I’m aiming for?

Where do you stand today?

Do you know what activities count towards your "Future Focused Work"? Answer these questions to help you define the activities to do and people to connect with.

1. In the best case scenario, what do I want my next role to be?
2. Do I know what activities I should be doing now to prepare for the next role I want?
3. How much of my week goes to getting things done vs. growing my career?
4. Am I doing anything to raise my visibility beyond my team?
5. Have I learned anything new that helps me lead at a higher level?
6. Can I explain why I’m ready for a bigger role, clearly and confidently?
7. When’s the last time I connected with someone who could open a door?

If any of these questions have you stumped, it might be time to get an outside perspective. Let's book a call - on me - to help you figure out what to do next. ​

Momentum doesn’t require more hours, just better alignment

When Morgan began carving out just 90 minutes a week for deliberate career-building work, things shifted.

She clarified what made her promotable and practiced articulating it. She reached out to people she hadn’t connected with in months. She aligned her work with strategic outcomes and made sure they were visible.

A few months later, new conversations were happening. This time, she wasn’t chasing opportunities; she'd laid the foundation and she was ready.

If this feels familiar, my closing message to you is that you don’t need to work harder. But you may need to work differently.

If you’d like to walk through your own Career Investment Audit, I offer free 1:1 Career Strategy Calls. We’ll take a clear look at where you are now, where you want to go, and what will move you forward.

​Click here to book your free call​

P.S. If your schedule is packed, that’s exactly why this matters. High performers don’t need more pressure, they need a plan.Book your call →​

Until next week,

Beckie