283: Failing Upward: Navigating Undeserved Promotions with Dima Ghawi episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 20, 2025 · 27 MIN

283: Failing Upward: Navigating Undeserved Promotions with Dima Ghawi

from Manage Smarter · host C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong

Dima Ghawi, author of 'Breaking Vases: Shattering Limitations and Daring to Thrive,' discusses the phenomenon of 'failing upward' in the workplace. How to deal with people less qualified "falling up" and getting promoted past you, how to deal with managing people who "fall up" into your department! With her extensive experience in leadership and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dima offers insights into overcoming unconscious biases and navigating office politics. Learn how to create a resilient career path and foster an inclusive work culture in this engaging episode. "I just think a lot of these individuals get promoted because they know how to play the game. They know how to play politics. They say the right thing. They do the right thing." - Dima Ghawi Key Takeaways: -Peter Principle and Pretty Principles -Unconscious Bias and how that plays into "Falling Up" dynamics -What strategies can individuals use to cope with being passed over for promotions?  -Managing those who have fallen up into your department and managing the existing teams around them Connect with Dima Ghawi https://www.dimaghawi.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimaghawi https://www.breakingvases.com Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!! ·         Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/ ·         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/                                       ·         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/  TWITTER/X  Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven Lee  https://x.com/cleesmith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website:  https://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dima Ghawi, author of 'Breaking Vases: Shattering Limitations and Daring to Thrive,' discusses the phenomenon of 'failing upward' in the workplace. How to deal with people less qualified "falling up" and getting promoted past you, how to deal with managing people who "fall up" into your department! With her extensive experience in leadership and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dima offers insights into overcoming unconscious biases and navigating office politics. Learn how to create a resilient career path and foster an inclusive work culture in this engaging episode. "I just think a lot of these individuals get promoted because they know how to play the game. They know how to play politics. They say the right thing. They do the right thing." - Dima Ghawi Key Takeaways: -Peter Principle and Pretty Principles -Unconscious Bias and how that plays into "Falling Up" dynamics -What strategies can individuals use to cope with being passed over for promotions?  -Managing those who have fallen up into your department and managing the existing teams around them Connect with Dima Ghawi https://www.dimaghawi.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimaghawi https://www.breakingvases.com Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!! ·         Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/ ·         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/                                       ·         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/  TWITTER/X  Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven Lee  https://x.com/cleesmith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website:  https://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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283: Failing Upward: Navigating Undeserved Promotions with Dima Ghawi

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This episode was published on July 20, 2025.

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Dima Ghawi, author of 'Breaking Vases: Shattering Limitations and Daring to Thrive,' discusses the phenomenon of 'failing upward' in the workplace. How to deal with people less qualified "falling up" and getting promoted past you, how to deal with...

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