As I reflect on the inaugural year of Promote Leaders, the biggest lesson I’ve learned by far is the power of listening.

Throughout my career, I’ve prided myself on being an exceptional active listener and asking powerful questions, but this past year as a coach has expanded my view and taught me new lessons that have benefited me as a coach, partner, and leader.

Several of my clients recently finalized their end-of-year reviews with their direct managers. Unfortunately, they are leaving these sessions disappointed by receiving unclear feedback or not being given a clearly defined career path, feeling over-reliant on one person to champion their development and advancement.

Promote Leaders has developed a proprietary Career Stakeholder Map, shown below, approaching the concept of expanding your network through the lens of a stakeholder map, a tactic often used for large change management initiatives.

I once missed out on a promotion and was told, "You're a good worker, but we don't really know you."

The feedback left a lasting impression on me because I was guarded, keeping my personal and professional life separate, following the traditional philosophy of my parents of "working hard and keeping my head down.” I kept this approach even after finally achieving that promotion.

However, when I changed companies, I decided to be slightly more open and share more about my personal life and interests. To my surprise, it made a big difference.

It’s that time of year when everyone is setting personal and professional goals. Though an important time for reflection, how can we ensure those goals are actually achieved?

Very early in my career I learned about Executive Presence, which included principles like leading with poise, confidence, and grace.

After spending years honing that skill, I realized that my definition also included assimilation. Breaking through that barrier and finding my authentic leadership style revealed an entirely new world where I was more productive, built better relationships, and expanded my influence.