How Do I Get Promoted Without a Clear Career Path? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 12, 2026 · 1H 8M

How Do I Get Promoted Without a Clear Career Path? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast

from Harvard Business Review · host HBR

How Do I Get Promoted Without a Clear Career Path? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast 5 Oct 2022 --- He’s a self-professed “natural finance guy” and has shown himself to be invaluable to his company. His long-term goal is to become a CFO, but he’s gotten little feedback on what to do to get to the executive level. Now he’s starting to feel stuck in middle management. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through managing his career, even when the plan isn’t always clear. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 07:54 – What’s Holding Me Back? 14:50 – Advocate for Yourself 21:01 – Potential vs. Current Performance 27:18 – Take Control of Your Career Management 32:48 – Define Your Purpose and Be Realistic 41:05 – Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 48:32 – Confusion Becomes Clarity Further reading: • 6 Ways to Take Control of Your Career Development If Your Company Doesn’t Care About It: https://hbr.org/2018/01/6-ways-to-take-control-of-your-career-development-if-your-company-doesnt-care-about-it • How to Make Progress on Your Long-Term Career Goals: https://hbr.org/2022/03/how-to-make-progress-on-your-long-term-career-goals • Setting Career Priorities When Everything Is Uncertain: https://hbr.org/2022/01/setting-career-priorities-when-everything-is-uncertain You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2022/10/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path/id1545444200?i=1000581423865 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FPKT4HMq4GBl2SLodQECj?si=deaa62a22cf84f33 - Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/coaching-real-leaders/episode/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path-207270844 - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2NvYWNoaW5nLXJlYWwtbGVhZGVycw/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAyMC0xMi0xNzpjb2FjaGluZy1yZWFsLWxlYWRlcnMuczQuMDAwMQ?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiAhtSv28T6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQPg Series Description: We all want to get to the next level of our career, but so many of us get stuck. Longtime leadership coach Muriel Wilkins takes you inside real-life leadership coaching sessions with high performers working to overcome professional challenges and grow as leaders. Listen in on real conversations and leave with new insights and practical guidance for your own career. The views expressed on this podcast are those of its hosts, guests, and callers, and not those of Harvard Business Review. About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org. Follow Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harv... https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_bus... Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #leadershipcoaching #leadership Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Do I Get Promoted Without a Clear Career Path? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast 5 Oct 2022 --- He’s a self-professed “natural finance guy” and has shown himself to be invaluable to his company. His long-term goal is to become a CFO, but he’s gotten little feedback on what to do to get to the executive level. Now he’s starting to feel stuck in middle management. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through managing his career, even when the plan isn’t always clear. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 07:54 – What’s Holding Me Back? 14:50 – Advocate for Yourself 21:01 – Potential vs. Current Performance 27:18 – Take Control of Your Career Management 32:48 – Define Your Purpose and Be Realistic 41:05 – Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 48:32 – Confusion Becomes Clarity Further reading: • 6 Ways to Take Control of Your Career Development If Your Company Doesn’t Care About It: https://hbr.org/2018/01/6-ways-to-take-control-of-your-career-development-if-your-company-doesnt-care-about-it • How to Make Progress on Your Long-Term Career Goals: https://hbr.org/2022/03/how-to-make-progress-on-your-long-term-career-goals • Setting Career Priorities When Everything Is Uncertain: https://hbr.org/2022/01/setting-career-priorities-when-everything-is-uncertain You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2022/10/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path/id1545444200?i=1000581423865 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FPKT4HMq4GBl2SLodQECj?si=deaa62a22cf84f33 - Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/coaching-real-leaders/episode/how-do-i-get-promoted-without-a-clear-career-path-207270844 - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2NvYWNoaW5nLXJlYWwtbGVhZGVycw/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAyMC0xMi0xNzpjb2FjaGluZy1yZWFsLWxlYWRlcnMuczQuMDAwMQ?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiAhtSv28T6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQPg Series Description: We all want to get to the next level of our career, but so many of us get stuck. Longtime leadership coach Muriel Wilkins takes you inside real-life leadership coaching sessions with high performers working to overcome professional challenges and grow as leaders. Listen in on real conversations and leave with new insights and practical guidance for your own career. The views expressed on this podcast are those of its hosts, guests, and callers, and not those of Harvard Business Review. About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org. Follow Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harv... https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_bus... Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #leadershipcoaching #leadership Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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This episode is 1 hour and 8 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 12, 2026.

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How Do I Get Promoted Without a Clear Career Path? | Coaching Real Leaders | Podcast 5 Oct 2022 --- He’s a self-professed “natural finance guy” and has shown himself to be invaluable to his company. His long-term goal is to become a CFO, but he’s...

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