No BS Advice for Broke Employees

Summary

• To get promoted, shift from focusing solely on executing tasks to advocating for yourself. Speak up about your achievements and plans to create visibility. People need to know about your contributions to recognize and reward them.

• Developing leadership skills is essential for moving up. Working harder in your current role won't necessarily lead to a promotion, but improving your communication and leadership skills will.

• Understand the value progression in a company: start by mastering execution, then move to influencing and leading others. Leaders must communicate effectively and persuade teams to achieve goals.

• Be proactive rather than reactive. Plan for the future and anticipate challenges. This means thinking ahead and preparing your team for what lies ahead, rather than just responding to immediate problems.

• Manage your time effectively. Prioritise your activities and ensure your calendar reflects these priorities. Great leaders work hard on the right things and not just on anything.

• Help your manager by reducing their workload. Find ways to take tasks off their plate to increase your value within the company. This not only helps them but also gives you learning opportunities.

• Being proactive in communicating ideas and seeking responsibilities beyond your defined role demonstrates leadership potential. Show that you're committed to the company, not just your specific job function.

• Balance execution with strategic planning. Spend time both doing tasks and thinking about how to improve processes and outcomes. This balance is crucial for leading teams effectively.

• Schedule regular planning time to prioritize tasks. Don’t let immediate tasks consume all your time—set aside time for strategic thinking to move forward with intention.

• Learn to manage yourself before managing others. How you handle your time and responsibilities directly impacts your ability to lead a team. If you can't manage your own commitments, you'll struggle to lead others.

• Always look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce friction in your work processes. Make life easier for your teammates and managers, and you'll be seen as a valuable asset.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing the practice of advocating for yourself. It's important not just to do the work, but to let others know about it. So, start by sharing your achievements in meetings or weekly reports. This creates visibility. If people don’t know what you’re doing, they can’t recognize or reward you for it.

A good way of developing leadership skills is by focusing on effective communication. Find ways to improve how you present ideas and collaborate with your team. Maybe volunteer to lead a meeting or a small project. It helps you practice those soft skills needed for promotions.

Managing time effectively is crucial. Look at your schedule—are you prioritizing the most important tasks? Each week, set aside planning time to ensure your activities align with your goals. If something doesn’t move the needle, reconsider spending time on it.

Help your manager by taking extra tasks off their plate. Not only does this increase your value to them, but it also gives you new learning experiences. Take a look at your manager's workload and offer to help with specific tasks you know you can handle.

Be a proactive thinker. Don't just react to problems—think ahead. What's coming next? How can you and your team be prepared? This mindset shows initiative and leadership potential.

Lastly, reduce friction. Find ways to make processes smoother for your teammates or manager. Small improvements can go a long way and show you are an asset to the company.

Quotes

"If a tree falls in a forest but nobody sees it or hears it fall did it fall"

– Leila Hormozi

"More of the same keeps you stuck where you are"

– Leila Hormozi

"People are compensated to the level of skills they have"

– Leila Hormozi

"You have to put in the Reps"

– Leila Hormozi

"Management of time comes before management of self"

– Leila Hormozi