There are only two ways to manage your executive or senior management career.

1. The Reactive Way
2. The Bold Way

Most 6-figure figure senior managers and executives fall into the first category.

➡ You're hoping the quality of your work will speak for itself
➡ Quality opportunities are scarce because you're avoiding personal marketing
➡ You're successful but maybe not fulfilled
➡ You feel ready for the next level and are stuck on how to make it happen
➡ Or something happens to your job, and you don't have a net

Which is why you're feeling stuck and undervalued.

On top of that, you're probably struggling with a lack of career vision; "Is it too late to create something that fills me up and utilizes my potential?" "What do I want for my next chapter?"

Now, imagine that you're truly thriving in your career.

➡ You are in the right role for you now
➡ You get to do work that lights you up
➡ Your career is a fuel source for your life [lifestyle, energy, confidence]
➡ You're in the driver's seat of your career advancement

"How am I going to get to that stage?", I hear you ask.

Here's how.

The first step is getting you into the right job. If you're ready to make a career move, by following my proven 3-step program, we will take you from "stuck" to "starting your next-level role" in 3-4 months.

Phase 1 ➡ we'll remove Doubt and get you "Market Ready" by creating a winning strategy and materials
Phase 2 ➡ we'll remove Self-Promotion Fear to get you "Sales Ready" by helping you uncover and generate the right opportunities
Phase 3 ➡ we'll remove Interview Jitters and get you "Interview Ready" so that you'll interview and close confidently, ready to make the right decision

And we'll work with you until you land your next-level role.

The second step is managing the business of YOU. We have a unique, proven approach to advancing your career.

Our results speak for themselves:

"Two promotions since our first call - not bad." [Preston - VP & GM]

"Their transformative approach equipped me with high-impact assets, insights, and strategies, empowering me to take full command of my career journey and unlock my professional potential." [Lisa - CEO]

"Paid out 10X what I invested in services" [Matt - SVP]

"If you're looking to elevate your career, look no further!" [Brandon, Asst GM]

Back to you.

Are you tired of stagnating and not having the career journey you deserve? Are you ready to land your next-level role and advance your career?

Then let's talk.

I'm a 22-year executive career coach, ex. executive recruiter and MBA career centre director.

DM me here.

Ian Christie

Most of us try to earn trust at work by being perfect.

Spoiler alert: That's exactly what kills it.

I've spent years watching leaders struggle with this.

The ones who build the most trust? They do the opposite of what you'd expect.

Here are 11 "risky" moves that actually build massive trust:

1️⃣ Disagree with your boss (thoughtfully)
↳ "I see it differently - here's why..."
↳ Shows you care more about results than politics
→ Impact: Earns respect from both peers and leadership

2️⃣ Let others see you change your mind
↳ "I was wrong" are the 3 most powerful words in leadership
↳ Shows you value truth over ego
→ Impact: Creates a culture where innovation thrives

3️⃣ Take credit for mistakes BEFORE anyone notices
↳ "I made a call that didn't work out - here's how I'm fixing it"
↳ Speed of ownership = Speed of trust
→ Impact: Builds psychological safety team-wide

4️⃣ Bring conflicts into the open
↳ "We actually disagree on this approach..."
↳ Surfaces debates that others are afraid to have
→ Impact: Prevents costly misalignments later

5️⃣ Ask the "obvious" questions in meetings
↳ "Sorry, but can we define what success looks like?"
↳ Creates safety for real learning
→ Impact: Saves teams from assumption-based failures

6️⃣ Share your career uncertainties
↳ "I'm working on improving my strategic thinking"
↳ Vulnerability attracts mentors & sponsors
→ Impact: Opens doors to unexpected opportunities

7️⃣ Set clear boundaries
↳ "I don't work on weekends unless it's truly urgent"
↳ Clear limits prevent future trust breaks
→ Impact: Earns long-term respect and reliability

8️⃣ Celebrate when others prove you wrong
↳ "You know what? That's a much better approach"
↳ Encourages innovation & psychological safety
→ Impact: Creates an environment where best ideas win

9️⃣ Leave meetings you don't need to be in
↳ "You've got this covered - I'll step out"
↳ Shows genuine confidence & respects time
→ Impact: Demonstrates true leadership maturity

🔟 Share credit for ideas you improved
↳ "Building on Maria's brilliant insight..."
↳ Shows you amplify others' strengths
→ Impact: Builds a reputation as a multiplier

1️⃣1️⃣ Talk openly about what you're learning
↳ "Here's what I'm still figuring out..."
↳ Makes it safe for everyone to grow
→ Impact: Creates a continuous learning culture

The truth?
While others are playing it safe and chasing perfection...
...these "risky" behaviours create greater impact and make you stand out.

---
♻️ If this resonates, repost to help others grow.
✅ Follow Ian Christie to make next-level career moves, become highly marketable, and create the career journey you deserve.

💬 Which one feels scariest to you? Share below 👇

Career Coach ✦ Land your next-level role, Get promoted, Pivot to your Career 2.0 ✦ 2000+ management to C-suite clients ✦ Ex. Executive Recruiter & MBA Careers Director ✦ Follow for the career journey you'll celebrate

A page: The title reads "11 Counterintuitive Behaviours to Build Massive Trust at Work". What follows is a list of 11 ways to do that. 

You're not unlucky in your career.

You're unprepared.

Most people work frantically IN their job, then panic when they need to work ON their career.

They wait until the layoff notice. 
Until the toxic boss becomes unbearable. 
Until they're passed over for promotion again. 

Then they scramble. 

Update a dusty resume. 
Frantically message old contacts. 
Hope someone throws them a lifeline.

That's not bad luck. That's bad planning. I've seen it (and helped repair the damage) more times than I can count. 

Here's what "lucky" people do differently:

- They build while they're comfortable. 
- They invest in relationships before they need them. 
- They track their wins and amplify their visibility. 
- They make strategic moves during key career moments. 
- They consistently expand their opportunity surface area.

Small preparation habits compound: → Weekly industry reading → Monthly coffee chats → Quarterly skill investments → Annual strategic reviews

Bigger preparation moves create trajectory shifts: → Taking on high-visibility projects → Building cross-functional relationships → Developing your personal brand → Making smart, timely career decisions

Your track record becomes fuel. Your network becomes your safety net. Your reputation opens doors. 

Stop hoping for career luck.

Start creating it.

Ready to get "lucky" with your career? Get weekly career strategy in my free newsletter (see link in my profile) or DM me if you're ready for personalized help.

♻️ Repost to help others avoid this common trap. 
✅ Follow Ian Christie to ensure you feel "lucky" in your career.

💬 What's an example of when "luck" struck for you?

Image of a basketball player mid-leap for a slam dunk. The caption reads: "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. - Seneca"

The best networking moments aren't in your calendar.

They live in random thoughts you usually ignore.

Last week, I thought of a business acquaintance. We hadn't spoke in two years. The same afternoon, he calls me. 

Recently, a newly landed client reached out to share how well her new role was going two months ina. 
... I was going to check in on her the same day. 

These 'coincidences' are not random.

They're your network intuition working its magic.

Here’s how to turn these moments into meaningful connections and relationship builders:

1. Act immediately
→ Don't just log "i'll reach out later" and forget: send it within 5 mins
→ Quick voice note > Perfect email that never gets sent

2. Share the trigger
→ "I saw an article on AI ethics that immediately reminded me of our chats"
→ "That project you led last year popped into my mind when mentoring on something similar"

3. Make it easy to respond
→ End with a specific question
→ Offer a clear next step (15-min catch-up call?)

4. Create connection rituals
→ "Random reach-out Thursdays" to 2 people/week
→ Use your commute time for voice messages
→ My buddy makes calls to friends when he's walking the dog
→ Block an hour every second Thursday AM for a breakfast or coffee meeting and fill it

5. Add value first
→ Share a resource that's relevant to their current focus
→ Make an introduction they'd appreciate

6. Turn digital into real
→ When travelling, check who's local and grab coffee
→ Convert online conversations into real-world meetups

The strongest networks aren't built systematically (although you should do that too). 

They're built on serendipitous, organic moments of genuine connection.

Your network intuition is trying to help you.

Listen to it.
 
---
♻️ Share to help your connections network better.
➕ Follow me, Ian Christie, for daily posts that help you create your dream career. 

💭 What's your go-to networking / relationship building tip?

Photo by Heather McKean on Unsplash

Image of a woman on a sidewalk talking on her phone. The caption reads "Make a habit of reaching out to people, just because you thought of them." 

The Bold Career Project

The Bold Career Project (BoldCareer.com), is a Vancouver-based firm specializing in mid-career professionals.  I joined the amazing, passionate coaching and consulting team delivering career services, programs and training products, including:

-	Career transition services (Job Search / Career Change)
-	Interview coaching
-	Resume / LinkedIn development
-	Professional coaching (and psychometric assessments)
-	Career Growth Consulting
-	Outplacement services 

In addition, I get to support the marketing and operations of the business.  This allows me to use my skill set internally in the business as well as with clients.

Career Coach & Career Consultant

Amulet Career Services

At Amulet Careers I have the privilege of collaborating with an array of clients on their diverse career journeys.  In leveraging my years of experience as an ICF Certified Coach (PCC), my focus continues to be on psychometric assessments including the Birkman Method and the Emotional Capital Report (ECR) from RocheMartin.  An additional focus of my coaching and consulting practice has been on career transition strategies with a focus on interview strategies and offer negotiation.  Through this business I have the opportunity to work with retail clients as well as the amazing talent from the Sauder School of Business.

Principal

The University of British Columbia

In 2014, I was selected to join Coaching @ UBC, the community of internal coaches, as an intern.  In 2016, after completing coach certification training among other steps, I was excited and honoured to join the internal coaching team within UBC.  Since leaving UBC I remain affiliated with this amazing, forward thinking community.  In this role, I work with UBC staff on career development as well as other coaching topics related to leadership development.

Organizational Coach 

UBC Sauder School of Business

Having worked with the Business Career Centre and seen many students graduate and go on to exciting careers across diverse local and international industries, I was really thrilled to be working specifically with alumni.  In this role I continued to focus on one-on-one coaching appointments as well as workshop facilitation on all topics related to career development.  I especially enjoyed working with early to mid-career alumni who were either planning or were in the middle of a career transition.

Alumni Career Advisor

My focus at the Business Career Centre at Sauder was working with BCom students throughout their time at university and contribute towards overall student engagement.  Examples of career management support that I provided include one-on-one coaching on a range of topics including interview support, co-creating individual job search strategies, resume/ cover letter support, sharing labour market research tricks and working with assessments (Career Leader/ Strengthquest).  In addition to providing one-on-one support, I regularly delivered workshops for between 3-100 individuals on a wide range of career related topics.  Lastly, one of the highlights of this role included managing a group of 8-12 Career Peer Advisors.  This responsibility included managing the peer advisor weekly meeting, scheduling and on-going training.

Manager, BCom Careers

The Focus Group/ CPI

As an outplacement consultant, I worked with a diverse group of clients who had been transitioned from their current roles.  The client roles ranged from professional contributors and senior managers to warehouse staff.  Industries I worked closely with included professional services firms, biotech, retail, high tech, CPG and manufacturing.  Typical client services included transition support from initial notice of layoff throughout transition period to their next opportunity in the labour market.  As a coach, I led most of my clients through Birkman assessments, helped them build and market their brand in the market as well as assisted with the practical job search tools like resumes.

HR Consultant

YWCA of Vancouver

The YWCA Career Zone is a drop in centre for young 15-30 years old.  Here I met with a wide range of individuals who were pursuing equally diverse job opportunities.

Employment Counselor

British Columbia Ministry of Transportation

After graduating from SFU, I joined the Ministry of Transportation and worked on a series of province wide projects.  These project included facilitating the launch of a leadership development program, focus groups and survey research, including analysis and written recommendations.  Over the course of working with the ministry, I worked in Victoria, New Westminster and Burnaby.

Provincial Project Leader

TLD Computers

TLD Computers is division of London Drugs that sells computer hardware and software solutions to corporate clients.  I initially started as an assistant account manager where I supported three account managers with a wide variety of clients throughout BC.  After a year, I was promoted to the only marketing role within TLD and worked closely with our vendors (IBM, Toshiba and Microsoft) to create internal promotions and client events.

Marketing Coordinator/ Assistant Account Manager

ADCOM Inc.

ADCOM Inc. was a privately help technology company with approximately 100 employees across Canada.  They specialized in providing videoconferencing technology in large boardroom settings to government, education and corporate clients.  My role included client relations, service promotion and office management.  In 2004, ADCOM was acquired by Telus.

Admin & Marketing Assistant

For more then a decade I have had the privilege to work within the career management sector supporting both local and international clients.  My experience as a manager, coach and trainer in both private and public sectors has led to working with clients who have ranged from early career to mid-managers across various industries with a recent focus on business alumni. 

Through my professional roles I have shown:
- Strengths in administering career assessments including the Birkman Method - Signature Report 
- Client focused coaching skills leading to concrete professional development plans aligned with client centered goals (Professional Coach Certified (PCC) with over 1000 hours of client coaching)
- A proven track record in demonstrating high attention to client services and managing long term relationships with diverse clients
- Talent in designing and delivering career management workshops including Job Search Workshops in both private sector and higher education.
- A strong work ethic, value within my teams, and a very approachable and respectful manner

Additional info:
-Strength Finder top five strengths 1. Relator: forming close relationships 2. Strategic: identifying relevant patterns and alternative ways to proceed 3. Arranger: superior multitasker, flexible planner 4. Input: innate curiosity to know more  5. Woo: love to meet new people and make connections
-Emotional Capital Certified through Roche Martin - amazing tool used for professional development 

Passions outside of work include enjoying the classic Vancouver lifestyle of being by the ocean or on the ski hill!



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Ian Christie

Veronica Widmer, BCom, MBA, PCC

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Veronica Widmer, BCom, MBA, PCC

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