Managing A Career Podcast Por Layne Robinson arte de portada

Managing A Career

Managing A Career

De: Layne Robinson
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I help you navigate the path to professional success. Whether you're a recent graduate still searching for your place or a seasoned professional with years of experience, the knowledge and insights I share can show you how to position yourself for growth and career advancement.2024 Economía Exito Profesional Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Keeping Your Voice and Values - MAC110

    Keeping Your Voice and Values - MAC110
    Sep 23 2025
    Recently, headlines have been buzzing about the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following comments he made that some considered politically controversial. Now, most of us don’t have a late-night talk show as our platform—but we do have jobs, reputations, and careers to protect. And the reality is, how we choose to express our opinions, especially on polarizing topics, can have very real consequences. Today, we’re going to explore how you can hold on to your authentic voice at work without putting your career at risk—and what to do if your values and your workplace no longer align. Most workplaces—especially those with public-facing roles—expect employees to balance their personal values and opinions with those of the brand, the stakeholders, any regulatory standards, and audience expectations. In industries like media, public service, or any position with visibility, the cost of speaking out can be especially high. In Jimmy Kimmel’s case, the fallout wasn’t just about his employer’s decision; it involved political pressure, public backlash, and even affiliate networks stepping in to pull his content. The lesson here is that consequences don’t always come from your direct manager—they can come from third parties who hold influence over your career. And when your values are deeply held, conflict with those external forces becomes almost inevitable. The harder, more personal question is: how much risk are you willing to accept, and at what cost—professionally, financially, or socially? The first step in navigating this tension is recognizing the warning signs that your personal convictions may be on a collision course with workplace expectations. These signs can show up in different ways: maybe you find yourself constantly biting your tongue in meetings, avoiding topics you care deeply about, or feeling uneasy when leadership takes a stance that conflicts with your own beliefs. Sometimes it’s more subtle—you notice a growing sense of isolation, frustration, or even cynicism about the work you’re doing. Other times it’s external, like colleagues hinting that your comments could “raise eyebrows” or managers steering you away from sensitive discussions. Left unchecked, these signals often build toward bigger conflicts that can damage both your reputation and your career trajectory. Once you recognize the risks, the next step is learning how to balance authenticity with professionalism. A good starting point is understanding the official boundaries. Review your employer’s code of conduct, commentary policy, and social media guidelines. If you’re uncertain, ask confidentially about what’s acceptable and what isn’t. You may not always get precise answers—many policies are intentionally broad—but document what you ask and what you’re told. Clarity in writing gives you something to lean on later if questions arise. When discussing sensitive issues, focus on data, evidence, and organizational values rather than ideology. For example, framing a point as “Our mission includes fairness and transparency” often resonates more than stating purely personal beliefs. This doesn’t make you immune from backlash, but it does anchor your perspective in shared ground. You can also test your message by running it past trusted colleagues, considering your audience, and preparing to clarify if needed. Not every forum is equally safe for expressing views. Internal meetings, private memos, or small group conversations may allow more nuance, while public statements demand constant caution. A good rule of thumb: treat anything you say as permanent and potentially shareable. Ask yourself, “If this were broadcast on the evening news, would I stand by it?” Another overlooked safeguard is your reputation. People extend more grace when they see you as competent, fair, and constructive. Building trust takes time, but it creates a buffer: colleagues are more likely to interpret your voice as thoughtful rather than combative. That means documenting your achievements, investing in relationships, and avoiding the perception of being the constant dissenter. Finally, don’t ignore the legal landscape. In some industries or jurisdictions, protections exist for speech, whistleblowing, or political expression. However, these safeguards are uneven, often narrow, and pursuing them can be costly. Before speaking out on highly controversial issues, consult HR, legal counsel, or trusted advisors. Weigh the costs and understand the limits before assuming protection. Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, you’ll find that your values and your company’s expectations simply don’t align. At that point, you face two choices: sacrifice your convictions and stay, or look for an organization that better reflects your beliefs. Neither path is easy, and both come with trade-offs—but clarity about what you stand for makes the decision more ...
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    14 m
  • Career Speedrun - MAC109

    Career Speedrun - MAC109
    Sep 16 2025
    Welcome back to Managing A Career, the podcast that helps you put yourself on the fast track for promotion. I’m your host, Layne Robinson. Today’s episode is all about a concept I’m calling the Career Speedrun. If you’re into gaming, you probably know what a speedrun is: it’s when players try to beat an entire game as fast as possible, skipping unnecessary parts, using shortcuts, and optimizing every move. Now, when it comes to your career, you can’t literally warp-jump from your first job straight to the corner office—but you can learn to recognize what slows you down, what accelerates your progress, and how to navigate the corporate world without wasting years wandering around levels that don’t serve you. Let’s break down how to approach your career like a speedrun. A career speedrun isn’t about recklessly chasing promotions at the expense of everything else. Instead, it’s about intentional acceleration. It’s asking: What do I actually want? How do I get there faster without burning out? And what shortcuts exist in the corporate world that most people don’t notice? The truth is, most careers stall because people spend years in roles that don’t develop promotable skills, or they wait for someone else to “notice their hard work.” That’s like playing a game and waiting for the boss to beat himself. It doesn’t work. Let’s borrow from gaming. Speedrunners have three rules: Master the map. They know every corner of the game world. Exploit shortcuts. They find the hidden jumps or backdoors. Practice efficiency. Every move has a purpose. Applied to your career, those rules look like this: Master the corporate map. Understand your industry, your company, and your internal politics better than others. Find career shortcuts. Things like stretch projects, high-visibility assignments, and mentorship can accelerate years of growth. Practice efficiency. Don’t waste time on work that doesn’t move you closer to leadership, skills, or influence. The Corporate Map Framework If you don’t know the map, you can’t run it efficiently. That means: Understanding formal structures—the org chart, reporting lines, and official processes. Understanding informal structures—the hidden influencers, gatekeepers, and decision-makers who don’t appear on a chart but shape outcomes. Understanding industry context—where your company sits competitively and which skills are valued most in your sector. Speedrunners don’t guess where the finish line is. They know the terrain. In your career, the people who rise fastest are those who see the full landscape and navigate it deliberately. Shortcut Identification Framework In gaming, a shortcut might only shave a few minutes off your time. But in your career, the right shortcut can shave years off your path. Think about mentorship, for example—a great mentor can collapse your learning curve by sharing lessons you’d otherwise spend years figuring out. Sponsorship takes it even further. Unlike a mentor, a sponsor is the person who actively speaks your name in promotion meetings and advocates for your next step forward. Then there are cross-functional projects, which expand your visibility beyond your immediate team, giving leaders across the company a reason to know your work. Your internal brand matters, too. When people are clear about your strengths, you’re the first person they think of when new opportunities open up. Sometimes the shortcut is smart risk-taking—volunteering for the tough assignment that everyone else avoids, which can end up becoming the career moment that defines you. And finally, there’s skill stacking—learning high-value, promotable skills earlier than your peers, which gives you leverage that compounds over time. Most people take the long road, slowly building credibility step by step. But the speedrunner looks around and asks: Where’s the warp pipe? Efficiency Discipline Framework Efficiency in a speedrun is about never wasting movement. Efficiency in a career is about never wasting effort. Ask yourself three questions for every task on your plate: Does this build promotable skills? Does this increase my visibility? Does this connect me with power or influence? If the answer is no to all three, that task may need to be minimized, delegated, or re-framed. Speedrunners don’t spend hours in side quests that don’t matter to the end goal. Neither should you. Every career has levels. Let’s walk through them with a speedrun mindset. Level 1: The Early Game (Junior Roles)Here, most people grind on learning the rules and focusing on those easy, low-level tasks. But the speedrunner? They say: How do I prove value faster? That might mean volunteering for projects above your pay grade or learning skills that aren’t officially in your job description. Level 2: The Mid-Game (Senior Roles)Here’s where many people get stuck. ...
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    10 m
  • Early Promotion to Career Success - MAC108

    Early Promotion to Career Success - MAC108
    Sep 9 2025
    Reframing the Premature Promotion Back in Episode 58, I tackled the tricky terrain of getting promoted too soon—when the title lands before the readiness does. That episode unpacked the complications that can follow a premature promotion: skill gaps, team tension, imposter syndrome, and even layoff risk. This week, I’m flipping the script. Instead of focusing on the pitfalls, let’s talk about how to turn that early promotion into a strategic advantage. Because if you play it right, what starts as a stumble can become your fastest leap forward. The Risks Beneath the Ribbon-Cutting Getting promoted is thrilling—new title, new responsibilities, and a shiny new chance to flex skills you may or may not have yet. Maybe you lobbied hard for the role. Maybe someone senior left and you were the warm body in the right place. Either way, the promotion landed. But if it landed before you were ready, you’re not just stepping into a new job—you’re stepping into a minefield. You might be missing key skills. You might face tension from teammates who wanted the same role. And you might feel the creeping dread of Imposter Syndrome (I unpack that in Episode 83 – Faking It). If you let those complications define your leadership, they’ll quietly sabotage your credibility. But with the right mindset—and a few tactical moves—you can flip the narrative and turn this shaky start into a career catapult. Why Early Promotion Is a Hidden Advantage Here’s the twist: being promoted before you're ready can actually be a massive career advantage—if you know how to use it. You’ve just been handed a high-leverage moment. Expectations are low (or at least forgiving), visibility is high, and you’ve got a built-in narrative arc: the underdog who rose fast and figured it out in real time. That’s catnip for senior leaders watching from above. Most people wait until they feel “ready” to stretch. You? You’re already stretching. And that means you’re learning faster, building resilience, and proving you can grow under pressure. It’s not about faking it—it’s about accelerating your readiness while the spotlight’s already on. Defuse the Drama Before It Starts Let’s be honest—people are hard. Every person you work with comes with their own expectations, insecurities, and preferred operating system. And when you get promoted ahead of someone else, the emotional stakes spike. Resentment simmers. Doubt lingers. That’s why one of your first moves should be proactive one-on-ones with the folks who might be most resistant. Not to justify your promotion—but to listen, understand, and build trust. Ask what they need. Ask what they worry about. Then take visible action to show you’re not just a good fit for the role—you’re the best possible choice. This isn’t politics. It’s leadership. And the sooner you lean into it, the faster the tension turns into traction. Use the Low Bar to Build a Launchpad When expectations are low, exceeding them is almost too easy. The leaders who promoted you likely knew you weren’t fully baked for the role—they saw potential, not polish. That’s your opening. If you can quickly assess your skill gaps and build a fast-track learning plan, you’re not just catching up—you’re signaling that you’re already thinking ahead. This isn’t about scrambling to survive; it’s about showing you can scale. The faster you close those gaps, the more confidence your leaders will have that you’re not just ready for this role—you’re already warming up for the next one. Win Fast, Share Loudly With a new role, all eyes are on you—watching, judging, quietly betting on whether you’ll sink or swim. That spotlight won’t last forever, so use it while it’s hot. Look for short-term wins that prove you’re not just learning—you’re leading. But here’s the nuance: don’t just showcase your work, showcase your team. Give credit generously and publicly. It signals two things at once: that you’re confident enough not to hoard praise, and that you’re building something bigger than yourself. That kind of leadership doesn’t just earn respect—it defuses resentment and turns skeptics into allies. Set the Tone for Your Trajectory Early promotions aren’t just about the role you land—they’re about the reputation you build. This is your chance to show that you’re coachable, not defensive. That you learn fast, not just grind hard. That you can manage, influence, and lead—not just execute. When senior leaders see someone who can grow under pressure, elevate others, and stay open to feedback, they start thinking long-term. That’s how one early promotion becomes two. That’s how you get ahead of the curve—reaching the highest levels of the organization while others are still waiting for permission to stretch. You’re not just filling a role. You’re shaping your trajectory. Your Move If you’ve just landed ...
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    7 m
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