I read a stat the other day that blew my mind.

60% of new managers fail in their first year on the job. 

Damn. And here’s the kicker…

87% of them wished they had more leadership training before getting their new title. 

Imagine being so excited to finally become a decision-maker, influence the strategy, and get promoted…

Only to have it be an embarrassing flop just months after updating your LinkedIn profile…

All because you weren’t as prepared as you could be.

Now, here’s the simple truth.

Not being prepared for your next level of leadership is something you can change. It’s within your control. 

But too many women don’t take advantage of the opportunity to uplevel their leadership cred BEFORE landing the job. 

This strategy will help you be a more confident interviewee, sell yourself easily for the role, and set you up for success once you land the job. 

And honestly, it’s a really smart thing to do right now.

So, here are the 3 most strategic times in your career when uplevelling your leadership know-how is the best move you can make.

1. When You Don’t Feel Like You Need To

You may be saying, ‘I’m happy in my career now’ or ‘We’re in these pandemic times so no one is hiring’. Both of which may be true…right now. But sis, neither scenario will last forever. Waiting until you need to be ready is such a reactive way to manage your career and I know you’re better than that. 

The perfect time to build your leadership toolkit is actually when you don’t feel like you need to. Remember, careers are filled with ups & downs. Crisis comes and goes. When the time comes for you to make a career move, you want to be ready. Do that now and you’ll be far ahead of the game.

2. When You Had Unsuccessful Interviews for Leadership Roles

I can understand that not getting the job you want can be super discouraging. But here’s the good news. You clearly have a desire to step into leadership and they thought enough of you as a candidate to invite you in. That’s the perfect storm!

You have the raw material. You have the desire. Your brand is leading you in the right direction. All really good signs. Now your job is to learn the key leadership fundamentals that will help you interview with even more clarity & confidence next time.

3. When You Get a New Boss

A new leader coming in usually means some thangs are ‘bout to change. Your new boss likely has a checklist of areas she wants to assess. And, I’ll confidently bet money that she’ll be checking out what the team has to offer. A lot of times that means a shake up of the management layers.

I’ve stepped in to lead new teams a handful of times in my career and I made changes every single time. Building your toolkit now will put you in a good position to be considered for one of those top leadership opportunities on her new squad.

Overall, here’s the BIG TAKE AWAY: Become a Better Leader Now.

Remember, the pause we’re in isn’t going to last forever. You want to come out on the other side ready to fly.

You got this. I believe in you.

Cindy xo

Did you hear?? 

I made something special for you! It is my new FREE career guide, Get Promoted Playbook!

Learn the 10 strategies you can use to help position yourself for a promotion, even if playing politics isn’t your thing. Go to www.cindyharveyonline.com/playbook and grab your copy today!

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Cindy Harvey is a Leadership Coach and Founder of Amelia Dee, a career strategy company for women. She has coached hundreds of clients on leveraging the power of energy & mindset to create success at work as well as designing a magnetic professional brand to make their next career move a breeze.

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