Being invaluable in your role keeps you stuck.
When your leaders can’t imagine replacing you, they don’t promote you.
This trap keeps too many smart women stuck in their roles longer than they should.
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Here’s how to change that, especially with performance review season upon us 👇
Step 1: Build your transition story.
Start mapping out how your current role continues to thrive without you. Who can you train, delegate to, or mentor to sustain your results?
Step 2: Bring the business case.
In your next 1:1 with your boss, say:
“I’ve been thinking about how to scale the impact of what I’m doing. I’ve outlined a transition plan to keep this work strong while I take on broader strategic responsibilities.”
This shifts you from irreplaceable executor to strategic leader.
Step 3: Link it to business outcomes.
Frame your next step as an investment, not a reward:
“This move allows me to mentor others while freeing capacity for higher-level initiatives that drive [specific goal]....
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