Manipulation and flattery

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Management

Managing upward is about manipulation and flattery. But not in a bad way. “Why does my manager ask my opinion if he’s just going to disregard it?” a coaching client wondered out loud. “I’m tempted to just keep my ideas to myself from now on. Why should I bother speaking up if he’s not going to listen to me anyway?” Oh yes, the sullen, silent approach. “How can you strategically manipulate your manager?” I asked my client after we agreed …

Yes, feedback hurts

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Management

I had to take a dose of my own medicine recently. I tell my coaching clients that critical feedback is a gift, an opportunity for growth, insight into a potential blindspot. Yeah, whatever.  It also feels like a kick to the stomach. I recently gave a talk on confidence and “impostor syndrome,” topics that come up frequently in my coaching practice. As part of the presentation, I told personal stories to illustrate what impostor syndrome looks like and how to self-coach for …

Don’t be that guy

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Management

I was heating up my lunch when my husband stormed into the kitchen. “Don’t be that guy!” he exclaimed. I looked at the leftover salmon steaming in the microwave. “You’re right, I’m that guy,” I laughed. “Sorry!” We were referring to “that guy” who doesn’t realize that he is filling the shared office space with fishy odors. It made me wonder about other unwritten rules in the workplace, so I surveyed several of my coaching clients — senior-level professionals who have …