Have you ever watched someone else get the leadership role you wanted and wondered, “What am I missing?”
Chances are, it’s not just about your technical skills or work ethic. Often, it comes down to subtle behaviors that quietly undermine your chances of promotion.
I learned this the hard way early in my engineering career. I figured if I just worked hard and delivered results, a promotion would naturally follow.
I was wrong.
Over time, I discovered four quiet “promotion killers” – sneaky behaviors that might be holding you back from the leadership opportunities you deserve.
Let’s shine a light on them so you can get out of your own way.
#1 – Keeping Your Head Down
Are you grinding away hoping someone will eventually notice?
I used to do exactly that — putting in long hours and assuming recognition would follow — but all it earned me was burnout and a stalled career.
The truth was I wasn’t lacking value; I was just invisible.
No one saw the impact I was making, so it was as if that impact didn’t exist when promotion time came.
If your contributions fly under the radar, they might as well not count. People can’t reward work they don’t know about.
This isn’t about bragging — it’s about communication. Make your value visible by sharing wins and results with your team and leaders.
If you don’t toot your horn at least a little, nobody else will know there was music playing.
#2 – Staying Quiet About Your Ambitions
Another quiet career killer is never speaking up about what you want.
A lot of engineers wait patiently to be “tapped” for leadership, constantly asking themselves what skill gap to fix next.
But it’s not about obsessing over every weakness — it’s about demonstrating that you’re already performing at the next level.
If you never communicate your desire to grow, you might wait forever.
Your boss isn’t a mind-reader. Don’t assume they know you’re hungry for growth.
Have an open conversation about your career goals and start showing them you can operate at that higher role today.
Leaders take initiative — including the initiative to say, “I’m ready for more, and here’s the value I can bring.”
#3 – Neglecting Your Network
Leadership opportunities don’t happen in a vacuum. They often arise because someone knows you, trusts you, and advocates for you.
If you’ve been focusing solely on the work and neglecting relationships, you’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle.
Visibility isn’t just about who sees your work — it’s also about who knows you.
Staying in your silo means fewer allies to mention your name when new opportunities open up.
So stop flying solo.
Invest time in building genuine relationships across your company and industry.
When you forge strong connections, you expand your reputation and increase the odds that people will mention your name in rooms you’re not in.
Your network can become your secret weapon — turning you from “who’s that?” into the obvious choice for leadership.
#4 – Sticking to Your Comfort Zone
Do you avoid big projects or extra responsibilities because they’re not “your job”?
Playing it safe might feel comfortable, but it’s a quiet career killer.
If you never volunteer for high-visibility work — or worse, if you often say “that’s not my job” — you’re signaling that you’re not leadership material.
Leaders are proactive.
They raise their hand for challenging, cross-functional projects and chances to shine.
Think about it: when a critical initiative needs a lead or an opportunity comes to present to execs, do you step up?
Those who step out of their comfort zone are the ones who get remembered when it’s time to promote.
Don’t wait to be asked. Volunteer. Lead something. Speak up in meetings. Take initiative.
That’s how you shift from being seen as a great engineer… to being seen as a leader.
Let me leave you with this
None of us mean to stall our own careers. But it happens — slowly and silently — when we stay in our comfort zone, keep our head down, and never speak up about what we really want.
The good news is every one of these habits can be changed. Today.
You’re not destined to stay stuck.
Cut out these four promotion killers, and you’ll clear the path for your leadership potential to finally get the spotlight it deserves.
You’ve put in the work. Now go get the reward.
Your future self — the one leading the team, driving the strategy, and loving Mondays — will thank you for it.
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Let’s go. 👊
