Email your host directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com
How to Get Promoted - The Right Way
In this episode, Chris dives into the overwhelming noise of modern leadership advice—especially the kind that circulates on social media. Using a popular LinkedIn article about "how to get promoted" as a springboard, he breaks down 11 common pieces of promotion advice, evaluates their strengths and pitfalls, and reframes them through the lens of transformational leadership. Instead of playing political games for advancement, Chris argues for a mindset shift: focus on elevating others and leading with integrity from your current seat. Promotion, he says, should come as a necessity.
The internet—especially LinkedIn—is saturated with leadership content.
Some advice is good, some is harmless, and some is outright counterproductive.
The challenge: discerning truth from noise.
The article suggests smiling more and remembering coffee orders.
Chris warns this can quickly slip into "kissing up".
Better principle: be trustworthy and perform well—not manipulative.
The article suggests making your manager look good publicly.
Chris cautions: this crosses into flattery and can backfire.
Better approach: offer private encouragement, not public posturing.
Small acts of thoughtfulness matter.
Chris agrees this is harmless and often helpful—when done authentically.
"FaceTime" can be useful but feels like a dirty game when forced.
Seek influence for positive impact, not status climbing.
Listening is powerful.
Gathering others' insights often beats being the loudest voice.
Chris supports this one.
Assistants often have more influence than people realize.
Treating people with respect isn't a strategy—it's character.
Chris says this belongs at the top.
People remember how you made them feel.
Ending with gratitude encourages and builds rapport.
Pay attention to what's being rewarded.
Adapt—but never compromise your integrity or ethics to fit a toxic shift.
Read messages aloud; delay your send; match communication style to your audience.
Chris admits learning this the hard way.
Honesty builds more trust than false expertise.
"I don't know, but I'll find out" is powerful leadership.
Asking for feedback also demonstrates humility.
Many people promise; few deliver.
Don't overpromise—overdeliver.
When situations change, communicate early and clearly.
Chris wraps the episode by challenging the core premise of the LinkedIn article:
You shouldn't do any of these things to get promoted.
You should do them to elevate others.
Key emphasis:
Don't chase promotion.
Lead with integrity from any seat.
Encourage and uplift your peers.
Build trust, deliver results, and treat people with dignity.
When you adopt transformational leadership, promotion becomes unavoidable—your organization needs you at a higher level.
This is the heart of Northbound: leadership that transforms people, not leadership that seeks position.
Shift from "How do I climb?" to "How do I elevate others?"
Some advice leads to manipulation; true leadership requires authenticity.
Treating assistants, peers, and coworkers with dignity creates real influence.
Digital tone matters; delay your send and speak with intention.
"I don't know" builds trust more than bluffing.
Reliability is one of the most underrated leadership traits.
Transformational leadership impacts the whole team—not just you.
