No one teaches you: Career growth and management

04 Jan 2025

Preface

When I say “no one teaches you”, I mean that there are life lessons that are not among the typical curriculum provided to young adults as they begin navigating their ADULT adult lives. Not from their schools, their first jobs, and not from their parents. This post is a reflection on life lessons you may have to learn the hard way - like I did.

No one is paying attention to you at work. (Like, really seeing you perform at that high level.)

Well, mostly. Maybe if you’re some wunderkind? Or 10x unicorn? Maybe.

But no, mostly. Nope.

Sorry.

Why? Because everyone is also trying to make their way, get by, keep their head above water, or get to the end of the day or week. Being an adult is hard, and most of us are just tired.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. People around you may care, and may be trying to do what they can to help you excel and get that promotion, but at the end of the day that responsibility ends up at your feet. The responsibility to prove that you are doing everything you need to do to move up that ladder, is ultimately on you.

For an interesting read on what it’s like navigating advancement of a career in “BIG TECH” (scare quotes!), there is this post from Michael Lynch - “Why I Quite Google to Work for Myself”. This post has stuck with me for months, so I couldn’t write my own thoughts without sharing his.

Now, here’s where some of those exceptions kick in - if you’re lucky, you work at a company that has a tried and true process for showcasing the impact you have delivered to the business. Perhaps that’s a set of documents that serve as a framework for advancement, or the company uses something like Lattice to good effect, or your manager is constantly on your ass to document everything. But that’s a lot o’ “buts” and “maybes”.

But … most don’t.

So don’t expect that the people in charge of making decisions will just know. They won’t.¹

With that cynicism laced with realism—or vice-versa—out of the way, what now?

Keep receipts. Document what you’ve delivered month-over-month. What were your personal initiatives? Where have you delivered against your goals and promises? Who have you helped improve, and are you able to state how and why? Be direct on what you intend to do. What are your plans? Look at your organization’s leveling rubrics and not only track where you meet the expectations, but can exhibit how you have internalized those skills and have burned into muscle memory.

I want to be clear on something - I suck at this! I am often so focused on the day and week at hand, that I neglect to suitably prioritize the documentation of slow and steady growth. This is as much a reminder for me as it is for anyone I might have a similar conversation with. I wish I’d more people in my orbit over the years to beat this into my brain. Alas, I did not. C’est la vie. (Again, not their problem.)

So if you’re reading this, consider the above. Good luck. Look out for #1. Keep your receipts. And let me know how it goes.