Amazon

Continuous Improvement Manager

Area Manager

Site Manager

Junior Site Manager

Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark

Junior Research Assistant

Kverneland Group Kerteminde A/S

Master Thesis Project

ForeFlight

Data Consultant

Odense University Hospital

Semester Project

Follow for daily posts about Lean, CI & Innovation | Continuous Improvement Manager @ Amazon

Hi!👋 Ivan here

I'm an industrial engineer with 7+ years of experience in Operations Management and Continuous Improvement.

I serve two main groups of people:

	• Business owners and executives who want to turn their broken processes into brilliant ones (and save so much damn money) through Kaizen and Innovation

	• Founders and consulting firm owners within CI, Lean or Innovation who want to promote their businesses and make LinkedIn a legit revenue channel

(DM me for the details) 


I started writing on LinkedIn in October 2023. 

Since then, I have been sharing actionable, educational, and entertaining content to support LinkedIn community members in their continuous improvement journey. This helped me grow my audience from 9,000 to 100,000 followers in a year.

Join my newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ddQncJM5

Ivan Carillo

26 Kaizen Leadership Mantras

Here are the 4 principles that I believe are most powerful (and why):

1/ Gemba never lies; go and see for yourself.

I've seen leaders make terrible decisions because they trusted Excel sheets over their own eyes. The problems that cost us millions are often visible on the shopfloor, but nobody bother to look. Reports tell you what people want you to know. Gemba tells you what's actually happening. I think the moment you stop walking the floor is the moment you lose touch with reality. Your operators won't lie to you if you show up regularly, ask good questions, and actually listen to their answers.

2/ Without psychological safety, Kaizen dies.

I've watched brilliant Kaizen programs collapse because people were terrified to speak up. Companies that blame individuals for systemic problems get exactly what they deserve. Silence. Workers hide defects, skip reporting near-misses, and watch waste happen rather than risk looking stupid or getting punished. I think this is why most Kaizen initiatives fail within a year. You can't improve what people won't talk about, and people won't talk about problems in a culture of fear.

3/ The person doing the work knows it best.

I learned this the hard way early in my career when I implemented a Kaizen idea. The operators supported it, then immediately went back to their old method the moment I left. Every time I've ignored frontline expertise, I've wasted time and money solving the wrong problem. I think we underestimate how much knowledge lives in the hands and muscle memory of people who do the same task hundreds of times daily.

4/ Kaizen culture doesn't support strategy. Kaizen culture is strategy.

I spent years thinking CI was something that helped execute our "real" strategy. I was wrong. Companies with a strong Kaizen culture adapt faster, survive disruptions better, and outperform competitors with superior strategic plans. I think this is the principle most executives miss. Your competitors can copy your products in months, but they can't copy a culture where thousands of people solve problems every single day.

P.S. What's your fav one in the list?

Founder of Gemba Walk AI — I help executives cut waste and fix the broken processes costing them millions

Brutal truth: most Kaizen implementations fail within 6 months.

Here's why (and how to fix it):

Common failure pattern..

↓ Launch with great enthusiasm 
↓ Form improvement teams 
↓ Run some workshops 
↓ See initial results 
↓ Get distracted by other priorities 
 ↳ Kaizen activities fade away

The missing ingredient? 
Systems thinking.

Successful Kaizen requires these systems working together:

1/ Total Quality Management

+Customer focus throughout organization
+Process-oriented improvement mindset

2/ Just-In-Time Production

+Elimination of waste in all forms
+Flow-based operations

3/ Total Productive Maintenance

+Equipment reliability and efficiency
+Operator involvement in maintenance

4/ Policy Deployment

+Clear targets cascading from top to bottom
+Aligned improvement efforts

5/ Suggestion Systems

+Employee engagement in daily improvement
+Recognition of participation

6/ Small Group Activities

+Quality circles and improvement teams
+Collaborative problem-solving
 
Most companies try to implement Kaizen 
…without these foundations. 

Remember:

Success requires patience.

+Start with one system
+Build it thoroughly
+Connect it to others gradually

…and never stop improving!

Founder of Gemba Walk AI • I help executives cut waste and fix the broken processes costing them millions

Most companies create fantastic value stream maps.

Then file them away. (I've seen it dozens of times) 

Video credit to Krish Sengottaiyan. Give him a follow

Teams spend weeks mapping their current state. 

They identify waste. 
They draft the future state

Then ...nothing changes.

You know why?

No one is responsible for the customer experience.

Traditional organizations are function-based.

→ Finance reports to CFO 
→ Operations reports to COO 
→ Sales reports to CRO

Each leader knows their department.
But nobody understands how value flows end-to-end.

No single leader owns value stream performance.

"Everyone" is responsible = No one is responsible

VSM needs an owner with authority. 
One leader who can make decisions across silos.

CEO could, but they operate too high to manage CI.

So it's key to assign executive-level VSM ownership. 

Before you map your next value stream, answer this:

Who owns the complete customer journey?

If you can't name them...
save yourself the effort.

P.S. Does anyone in your organization have E2E accountability for value delivery?

Management Consultant | Coaching managers to transition from middle management stagnancy to senior leadership flourishing | DM "CONSULT" to get started

You’re a mid-level manager doing everything right, but still watching others move into senior roles ahead of you.

The truth is, most mid-managers get stuck at the same place: doing great work, but still being seen as the executor, not the strategic leader. 
Not the one with vision. 
Not someone decision-makers view as executive material.

I’m Marija, and for almost 20 years, I’ve helped Fortune 500 management teams bridge the gap between "get the stuff done" and "trusted advisor". I’ve learned that breaking into senior leadership has very little to do with more credential and everything to do with how you're perceived.

That’s why I created the Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop. 

In it, I’ll show you:
	• The career mistakes that quietly keep managers stuck in the middle
	• How to advocate for yourself without waiting for permission
	• And how to lead with influence, so the right people champion your next promotion
	
If you're tired of being overlooked, this is the strategy you've been waiting for. 

A clear, actionable plan to help you move into senior leadership in months, not years.

Marija Stevanovic

Being confident doesn't mean you have to be loud.
Being humble doesn't mean you're unsure.
 
Great leaders strike that balance.
They lead with quiet strength, not ego.
 
But how do you know if you're truly growing into that kind of leader?
 
Here are 10 uncommon signs you’'e becoming a humble but confident leader:
 
1/ You say "I don’t know" without panic or pause
↳ That honesty creates space for collective problem-solving.
 
2/ You let your team make mistakes you'd rather avoid
↳ Trusting their growth matters more than short-term perfection.
 
3/ You celebrate the hard truths your team hesitates to share
↳ Because growth starts where comfort ends.
 
4/ You invest in your team's narrative more than your own
↳ Their wins become your legacy, not your trophies.
 
5/ You ask questions you don't already know the answers to
↳ Vulnerability fuels your curiosity, not insecurity.
 
6/ You're comfortable being the last to speak in the room
↳ Because you know the best ideas often come after thoughtful silence.
 
7/ You expect discomfort as the price of change
↳ And you stay steady when everyone else wants to sprint or freeze.
 
8/ You quietly prepare for resistance, not applause
↳ Your confidence grows from knowing your convictions will be tested.
 
9/ You monitor your ego carefully
↳ Not to suppress it, but to channel it when it can serve the team’s vision.
 
10/ You manage your energy, not just your time
↳ Knowing when to lean in, and when to step back, is leadership muscle.
 
💡 Pro Tip: The confident humility of a leader isn't a mask you put on.
It's the result of deep self-awareness and relentless practice.
 
If you're seeing these signs in yourself, you're on the right path.
 
What’s the most surprising sign of humble confidence you've seen in a leader?
 
Share your story below ⬇️

You know what's worse than underperforming?       
 
Giving 100% and still being questioned.
Still being dismissed.
Still being unseen.
 
You hit targets.
You cover for others.
You lead with integrity.
 
But all they see is:
🧷 A moment of failure
📉 A decision they didn't make
📋 Admin work they dump on you to feel in control
 
You're told: "You're accountable for the team."
But when you act like it?
They ask why you acted at all.
 
And here's what's worse:
 
They know you're ten steps ahead.
But they need to see you shaken.
So they provoke.

Delay.
Discredit.
Because it feeds the illusion that they still hold the power.
 
You think this only happens in toxic orgs?
 
Nope.
This is everywhere leadership goes unchecked.
 
It's what happens when former top performers are handed teams
not because they can lead,
but because someone once told them they should.
 
And now, to protect their legacy,
the system protects them.
 
Mid-managers, this is your early warning:
📍When praise is political
📍When trust is conditional
📍When power is weaponized to belittle
 
Here's how to start fighting back, strategically:
 
1️⃣ Shift from compliance to clarity
Stop reacting. Start defining.
Clarify your role, your authority, your boundaries and stick to them.
 
2️⃣ Track outcomes, not opinions
Don't argue with narratives. Document impact.
Show your wins in metrics, not emotions.
 
3️⃣ Leverage power, don't chase it
Use your influence sideways and upward.
Quiet allies > loud approvals.
 
4️⃣ Make yourself visible beyond the noise
Start shaping how you're seen, not just by your team, but by the business.
Brand yourself on performance, not proximity.
 
💜 Like if this hits a nerve 
♻️ Share with someone quietly battling bad leadership

I used to think growth came from
chasing "More"
 
More meetings
More visibility
More projects
 
This led to decent results:
Promotions, pay raises, more responsibility.
 
But I still felt stuck.
Like I was moving, but not upward.
 
Something had to change.
 
Then I realized:
To become who I wanted to be,
I had to stop being who I was.
 
That shift is hard.
Because becoming someone new
means letting go of who's familiar.
 
5 actions that helped:
 
1/ Define your future self
Get specific. Who do you want to become in 3-5 years?
 
2/ Rewire your decision filter
Only say yes to what future-you would choose.
 
3/ Embrace the stretch
If it feels unfamiliar, you're growing. Stay with it.
 
4/ Audit your identity anchors
What habits, roles, or labels are keeping you small?
 
5/ Normalize internal discomfort
Every version upgrade starts with internal resistance.
 
Be patient with yourself.
 
You're not just changing roles.
You're becoming someone you've never been.
 
What version of you are you stepping into?
 
📍 Ready to lead from purpose, not pressure?
Join my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop 
and align who you are with how you lead:
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

Image credit: @goldiealexx on Instagram

I used to think doing all the right things was leadership.
 
That if I worked harder, I'd get promoted.
That if I proved myself again, I'd finally be seen.
That if I was in every room, I was moving up.
 
But not every race leads where you think it does.
Some just run you in circles.
 
Because at some point, being the go-to stops being impressive
and starts becoming invisible.
 
If you're stuck solving, sprinting, and still not stepping up,
these 5 mindset shifts might help you exit the middle:
 
1/ Trade being needed for being known
Staying busy keeps you useful, but not necessarily visible.
 
- Who sees the impact of your work?
- Who can name what you're best at?
- Where are you known for insight, not output?
 
2/ Ask for direction, not just feedback
Feedback helps you adjust. Direction helps you ascend.
 
- What roles are above you, and what do they actually need?
- How are senior leaders evaluated?
- What would someone two levels up say about your leadership?
 
3/ Step out of your lane
You don’t grow by staying put. You grow by playing bigger.
 
- Take on projects that cross teams.
- Speak up in conversations that feel one level above.
- Get comfortable not being fully ready.
 
4/ Let go of being the fixer
Fixing earns points. But foresight earns trust.
 
- Track what keeps breaking.
- Raise the flag early, not after the fire.
- Shift from action to anticipation.
 
5/ Redefine leadership
Leadership isn't about being busiest, it's about building belief.
 
- Influence without title.
- Champion change before you're asked.
- Be the reason your team sees what’s possible.
 
Being great at your job won't get you out of the middle.
It'll keep you in it.
 
Want to grow?
Stop racing to prove you're ready.
Start leading like you already are.
 
Wanna know how? 
Register for the final 2025 edition of my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop:
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

Image credit: @WisdomMadeEasy on Insta

It rarely starts with a battle.
It starts with silence.
 
You report to someone
who's never done what you've done.
 
But they've got
- the degree
- the title
- the confidence.
 
So, you nod.
You comply.
You shrink.
 
Until one day you look up,
and you're reporting to someone you quietly resent.
 
But here's the part no one says out loud:
 
You let it happen.
 
Leadership gets weaker
when strong people stay silent.
 
→ When titles matter more than proof
→ When politics outweigh performance
→ When you wait instead of act
 
And mid-level is the danger zone:
🔻 You're skilled enough to lead
🔻 Close enough to see the flaws
🔻 But stuck between safety + change
 
You either challenge it
or you become it.
 
Most choose comfort.
They stop pushing back.
They blend in.
 
But the cost is steep:
⛔ Talent that gets buried
⛔ Loyalty that breeds resentment
⛔ A system that rewards the wrong people
 
Here's a better way:
 
1️⃣  Stop being impressed by titles
Start being impressed by results.
 
2️⃣ Make truth more important than approval
You don't need to be liked to be respected.
 
3️⃣ Lead from the middle
You don't need permission to set a higher standard.
 
4️⃣ Don't inherit the script
Write your own version of how leadership should work.
 
5️⃣ If you're more qualified, act like it
Don't wait to be asked.
 
6️⃣ Refuse passive obedience
If you won't challenge it, don't complain about it.
 
👉 What's one moment you realized you had more to offer?
 
Drop it below, it might wake someone up.
 
📍 DM me "MIDDLE" if you're ready to stop playing small in a broken system.
♻️ Repost to remind others: silence is surrender

You may never get the title you've earned
You may never lead the team you built
You may never drive the vision you shaped
 
But here's what you will get:
 
More tasks stacked on your plate.
More meetings run by leaders who don't listen.
More years watching others rise on your work.
 
Corporate is full of managers keeping things afloat
Yet somehow, they stay boxed in,
While those with less depth steer the ship.
 
Everyone tells you: "Be a team player" to get ahead.
But you're watching others skip steps, speak louder, and take the credit.
While you carry the weight and stay silent.
 
So you ask yourself: if you exceeded expectations,
Led through every fire,
And coached without recognition,
 
Why does progress feel blocked?
Why do others lead while you keep things running?
 
After watching this cycle repeat, I've learned the real story:
No one's coming to hand you your next chapter.
 
1/ Begin with hard truth
What are you allowing to continue?
Because quiet acceptance becomes your ceiling.
 
2/ Kill the fantasy of the perfect plan
There's no script that guarantees growth.
Only choices that demand clarity.
 
3/ Trade comfort for control
Growth at this level needs a leap.
Not more patience, but more power.
 
You're at the crossroads.
 
Keep holding up broken systems.
Or step into the leadership you've already earned.
 
You choose.
 
Register for my Pathway for Senior Leadership workshop:
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU
 
New date:
December 3rd, 5-6 PM CET

Your title shows your role.
Your stories show your leadership.
 
Grazie, Marco Zima Simonella, for the visual and the inspiration behind this one.
If you're not already, follow him for sharp leadership insights.
 
You lead meetings.
You manage outcomes.
You deliver results.
 
But real influence?
It's not built in your deliverables.
It's revealed in your storytelling.
 
The best senior leaders I know don't rely on polished decks.
They rely on stories that stick.
Not louder, just deeper.
 
They tell stories that:
→ Create belief when alignment is hard
→ Make people feel the mission, not just hear it
→ Turn risk into rallying points
→ Stay with you long after the meeting ends
 
Because storytelling isn't about a stage.
It's about moments like:
→ Owning a failure that shaped your voice
→ Naming the quiet win that kept the team going
→ Casting vision that others choose to carry
 
I've seen executives with no followership.
And mid-level leaders who shift entire rooms with a story.
 
The difference?
One recites metrics.
The other makes meaning.
 
Because decks fade.
Strategies shift.
But stories?
 
They spread.
They become your reputation, your leadership brand, your legacy.
 
No one remembers the project name.
They remember how you made them feel.
 
👉 What story are you telling that people want to follow?
 
♻️ Repost if you know storytelling beats status
➕ Follow for more strategic leadership shifts

Most mid-level managers aren't stuck because of effort.
They're stuck because of repetition.
 
You're showing up.
You're delivering.
But your thinking? Running in loops.
 
The brain loves familiarity:
→ Same habits
→ Same priorities
→ Same lens
 
It saves energy.
But it also limits your leadership.
 
Even high performers hit this wall.
The work gets done, but growth stalls.
 
That's when it's time for a shift:
 
Start thinking beyond execution.
Start thinking like a senior.
 
Here's how I guide clients through that shift:
 
1/ Audit your thinking
Are you solving bigger problems or just solving faster?
 
2/ Change your questions
Stop asking: "How can I get this done?"
Start asking: "What would a senior leader focus on here?"
 
3/ Protect white space
You can't lead strategically if you're stuck in back-to-back tasks.
 
Senior leadership isn't earned from years of tenure.
But from practicing that level of thinking before you get the title.
 
Your next step up doesn't come from working harder.
It comes from thinking bigger.
 
Let's lead like it.
 
👉 Which one of these do you need to practice more?
 
💜 Like if this resonates
♻️ Share with a mid-level manager who needs this
☑️ Follow me for more real talk about leveling up to senior leadership

The scariest place to be?
 
In the same position
while everyone else is growing.
 
You're fixing problems.
They're building futures.
 
You feel useful.
But also… stuck.
 
That was me for years:
The go-to fixer
The dependable one
The safety net
 
But not the one
moving forward.
 
Until I asked:
What would it look like
to build, not just patch?
 
That question changed everything.
 
Because no one promotes the firefighter
while the builders move on.
 
Here's how to stop it:
 
1/ Write down the version of your role today
2/ Write the one you want next year
3/ Ask if your current path gets you there
4/ Define the gap. Then close it yourself
5/ Remember: you are the architect. No one’s coming to upgrade it for you
 
Here's the truth that reframes everything:
 
Your "indispensable" role
might be what's keeping you in place.
 
Being useful is not the same
as being irreplaceable.
 
Build your career like you'd build a business:
with a path, not just output.
 
🔥 Save this if you've been stuck in the same seat too long.
 
👉 Step into the final 2025 edition of the Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop:
📆 November 24, 5 PM - 6 PM CET
🔗 Link to register: https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

Stop calling yourself a leader if you're not leading with proof.
 
If you stand for something, show it.
Even when it's easier to stay silent.
Quiet ≠ credible.
 
The workplace is full of people wearing leadership titles.
But they don't model clarity.
They don't give direction.
They don't make decisions.
 
And it's not really due to lack authority.
It's because their values disappear under pressure.
 
But real leadership doesn't vanish when it gets inconvenient.
 
When you skip alignment with your values:
→ You confuse the people you're trying to lead
→ You build a reputation you can't live up to
→ You lose respect before you've earned authority
→ You stall your path to senior roles
 
The uncomfortable truth?
You don't earn leadership by pitching potential.
You earn it by living it daily.
 
Some managers rely on empty ambition.
They repeat buzzwords.
They say all the right things.
But they never show the receipts.
 
You're not them.
You're ready for senior leadership.
 
And the people who make it there?
→ They communicate with proof, not promises
→ They lead by example before asking others to follow
→ They back up every pitch with lived alignment
 
Stop using the title if you're not doing the work.
Stop hoping values are implied.
Stop mistaking ambition for leadership.
 
Be the leader.
Let your values speak before you do.
 
👉 Who needs to see you show up as the real version today?
 
Last chance to register for the next week's workshop:
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

Mid-manager: I feel stuck.
 
Me: What do you mean?
 
Mid-manager: I've done everything right. But I have no idea what's next.
 
Me: Do you want to be a Director?
 
Mid-manager: Maybe. I don't even know if that's the right move.
 
Me: Are you energized by what you're working on?
 
Mid-manager: Honestly? No. I'm just… coasting.
 
Me: Can I be real with you?
 
Mid-manager: Please.
 
Me: You're not stuck. You've just never had the space, or guidance, to define what success really means to you.
So you're climbing a ladder you're not even sure you want.
 
Mid-manager: That hits hard…

………….
 
This is the quiet crisis for high performers.
 
They do what they're told success looks like.
 
But inside, it feels flat.
 
Why? Because no one taught you how to lead with purpose.
 
You were taught to:
📍 Get the job
📍 Climb the ladder
📍 Check the boxes
📍 Wait to be noticed
 
But here's what creates clarity and momentum:
 
1/ Get honest about what drives you
2/ Define what "success" looks like for you
3/ Audit your current role for alignment
4/ Discover the kind of leadership you're wired for
5/ Identify strengths you've been underutilizing
6/ Shift from autopilot to intentional choices
7/ Build a vision worth working toward
8/ Use that vision to shape your next step
 
When you lack direction, everything feels heavy.
Work becomes mechanical. Promotions feel empty.
 
But when you clarify purpose?
↳ You stop comparing yourself to peers
↳ You reconnect with confidence
↳ You become known for something that matters
↳ You create momentum that feels like you
 
Your next level is about alignment
with the work, the mission, and the version of you you’re becoming.
 
Wanna learn more?
Register to my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop:
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU
 
Re-scheduled for:
December 3rd, 5-6 PM CET

Not every breakdown is loud.
Some happen in silence, right in the middle.
 
Mid-level managers carry the most invisible weight.
 
And over time, even the strongest glue breaks
when stretched without direction.
 
They're balancing three forces every day:
📍 Leadership's evolving priorities
📍 Their team's ground-level realities
📍 Their own career momentum
 
And beneath all of it, a quiet question grows louder:
"Am I still aligned with where this company is going?"
 
I've seen high performers stall not from burnout,
but from a slow drift into misalignment.
 
One feels exhausted.
The other feels lost.
 
Misalignment doesn't just lower performance.
It fractures belief.
 
Your strategy may be crisp.
Your slides may be clear.
But if your mid-leaders can't see themselves in the future you're building
they won't build it with you.
 
Ultimately, people stay when they grow with the company,
not just inside of it.
 
Where in your business is clarity missing from the middle?
 
👋 DM me if you're ready to become the clarity-driven decision maker 
your people can rally behind.

Mid-management isn't a milestone.
It's a transition phase, with an expiration date.
 
In consulting, I learned this early:
 
Projects end.
Roles shift.
And the next opportunity?
You don't wait for it.
You lead your way into it.
 
Your career should work the same way.
 
But too many get stuck perfecting their current role
when they should be preparing for the one ahead.
 
But here's where the real stall begins, quietly, and without warning:
 
You can be the most reliable person in the room and still get passed over.
You can deliver flawlessly and still feel invisible.
You can lead quietly and still watch others leapfrog you.
And execution alone stops working at this level.
 
That's how high performers get trapped in the middle
mainly since they never learned how to be seen as senior.
 
Here's how to stop circling the middle:
 
📍 Shape perception as intentionally as performance
📍 Lead beyond your title, own business outcomes
📍 Control your narrative before someone else does
 
If you've started to think of mid-management as "where you are"
get ready to stay there.
 
Your next level won't invite you.
You have to initiate it.
 
And if you're tired of doing everything right and still not moving up?
If you're ready to stop waiting and start rising?
 
This is exactly what we unpack inside my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop.
 
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU
 
💜 Like if this re-centered your path
♻️ Share with a leader stuck in the waiting room
☑️ Follow for more career strategy that breaks the ceiling

The wrong move is often the most useful one.
You've probably had one.

The role that promised growth, but left you questioning your own value. 
I know I did, and it changed everything.
 
It looked like a step up.
Talked like a big opportunity.
Came wrapped in praise and promise.
 
But inside six months, I knew:
 
I didn't grow, I shrank.
My edge dulled.
My clarity blurred.
And the version of me I'd worked hard to build?
She started to vanish.
 
Here's what I wish I knew then:
 
The wrong move isn't a failure.
It's your fastest path to knowing what right looks like.
 
Because inside every misaligned role, you gain:
 
🔹 Proof that title ≠ alignment
🔹 A masterclass in leadership you’ll never emulate
🔹 A list of non-negotiables you now defend fiercely
🔹 The language to name red flags in seconds
🔹 The self-respect to walk away before you're erased
 
These aren't setbacks.
They're strategy.
Developed in frustration.
Sharpened in silence.
Built in the brutal middle, between who you were and who you're becoming.
 
If you’re mid-career and mid-questioning, stop asking:
 
👉 Did I mess up?
Start asking:
👉 What wisdom did I earn?
 
Because senior leadership isn't a prize for perfect moves.
It's the result of strategic recovery from the wrong ones.
 
Want to turn detours into direction?
 
Join my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop.
We'll decode your missteps and turn them into momentum.
 
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

They told me to "toughen up" if I wanted to lead.
 
So I tried:
- Be calm, not reactive
- Be logical, not emotional
- Be strong, not soft
 
But underneath?
 
I still felt everything.
 
Frustration when decisions lacked context.
Guilt when I pushed too hard.
Empathy I couldn't turn off, even when the deadline couldn't move.
 
At first, I thought: "This must be a flaw."
 
But I was wrong.
 
The emotion I carried wasn't a weakness.
 
It was the signal I was built to lead, just differently.
 
The real shift into senior leadership didn't happen when I shut it down.
 
It happened when I learned how to hold it all, without losing direction.
 
Here are 10 emotional shifts that mark the real move into senior leadership:
 
1/ You feel the weight of decisions and move forward anyway
↳ Responsibility doesn't paralyze you. It clarifies you.
 
2/ You notice when others hold back around you
↳ And you adjust to invite, not intimidate, their best thinking.
 
3/ You recognize frustration as signal, not sabotage
↳ Emotions become inputs, not irritants.
 
4/ You carry others' uncertainty without absorbing it
↳ You hold emotional space while holding the line.
 
5/ You let guilt inform, not define you
↳ Some emotions are invitations to realign.
 
6/ You initiate emotional conversations
↳ Because unresolved tension costs more than tough dialogue.
 
7/ You don't take every reaction personally
↳ You lead beyond your ego, not through it.
 
8/ You stop reshaping yourself for approval
↳ Authenticity becomes your leadership posture.
 
9/ You prioritize calm over control
↳ Influence deepens when your presence feels safe.
 
10/ You stay steady in conflict
↳ Not because it's comfortable, but because you've trained for discomfort.
 
What I learned:
 
It's not about knowing more.
It's about feeling more, without getting lost in it.
 
Emotional depth, with discipline, becomes your quiet differentiator.
 
If you're sensing more, carrying more, and questioning if that disqualifies you:
 
It doesn't.
 
It means you're getting closer to the work that truly matters.
 
Which of these shifts have you felt most recently?
 
💜 Like if this unlocked something for you.
🔁 Share with someone ready to rise, but still stuck in the middle.
☑️ Follow for honest guidance on moving from manager to senior leader.

We live in a world driven by extreme ambition.
And I see it everywhere, from my daughter's ballet class to boardrooms.
 
Everyone's pushing for growth.
But few pause to ask: have we built the foundation for it?
 
This hits especially hard for mid-managers stepping into senior roles.
 
You're asked to lead bigger...
Without ever being shown how to lead better.
 
Here's why strong foundations matter more than you think:
 
1️⃣ Clarity beats speed
↳ If your team doesn't know the goal or the why, they're just staying busy, not growing.
 
2️⃣ Growth needs friction removed
↳ You can’t build momentum when every win comes with 3 blockers. Clear the path first.
 
3️⃣ Trust powers autonomy
↳ Without deep trust, you're micromanaging. With trust, your team takes ownership.
 
4️⃣ Feedback builds direction
↳ No consistent feedback = no consistent growth. People need to know what to improve and how.
 
5️⃣ Enablement multiplies effort
↳ Teams with the right tools, context, and support don't just execute, they evolve.
 
If you want to grow into senior leadership,
Stop sprinting toward outcomes.
 
Start by building the foundation that lets your team, and you, thrive.
 
Here's your chance to learn how:
Pathway to Senior leadership workshop
December 3rd, 5-6PM CET
 
👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

A reminder every mid-level manager needs:
 
You are your most important client.
 
You're trained to deliver for your team,
your boss,
your stakeholders.
 
But when was the last time
you delivered for you?
 
Most managers are high-performers for everyone,
except themselves.
 
↳ You drop everything to fix team issues
↳ You stay late to hit someone else's deadline
↳ You put growth off because "now's not the time"
 
But here's the reality:
 
If you neglect the relationship with yourself,
everything else starts to crack.
 
You'd never treat a key client like this:
 
⛔  Ignoring their long-term goals
⛔  Pushing off their development
⛔  Overloading their plate with no support
 
So stop doing it to yourself.
 
It’s time to shift:
 
Treat yourself like your top internal client.
 
➡️ Block time for your career, not just tasks
➡️ Protect your energy like it's billable
➡️ Set clear KPIs for your own development
 
That's how you grow with the business,
not just behind it.
 
Your team looks to you for leadership.
But you lead best when you're grounded,
developing,
and accountable to your own progress.
 
The work starts here:
📍 Build trust with yourself
📍 Reinvest in your future
📍 Show up like you matter
 
Because you do.
 
👉 What's one promise you've made to yourself this year?
 
💜 Like if this hits a nerve 
♻️ Share with a manager who needs this reminder

Most mid-managers believe they're being evaluated on performance.
 
They're not.
Not at senior levels.
 
They're being measured by something far harder to spot:
 
How quickly they evolve when everything shifts.
 
Here's what I mean:
 
✅ Last year's smartest leadership move? Might be useless now.
✅ Your hardest skill? Could be quietly depreciating.
✅ Your playbook? Built for a version of the business that no longer exists.
 
And senior leadership sees that long before you do.
 
I've watched brilliant mid-managers stay stuck
mainly because they kept polishing what used to work
instead of preparing for what's next.
 
They optimize today.
But they don't anticipate tomorrow.
 
And that's the gap.
 
The leap to senior leadership isn't about doing more.
It's about thinking further.
 
📍 Seeing the system, not just the task
📍 Reading shifts before they become storms
📍 Letting go of mastery to pursue relevance
 
Senior leaders aren't the best executors.
They're the fastest adaptors.
 
They evolve before they're forced to.
They adjust before they're asked.
They stop over-relying on what once worked and start building what will make them essential.
 
So if the work that once felt expansive now feels small, don't ignore that tension.
 
That's not burnout.
That's not boredom.
That's evolution.
And it's asking for your attention.
 
📍 Ready to turn that tension into traction?
Join my Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop and start rewriting your next chapter with clarity, confidence, and presence.
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU
 
👇 What's one leadership habit you’ve outgrown this year?

Ever had this moment?
You're the one holding everything together…
but your career still feels held in place.
 
That was me too.
 
The moment that changed my career didn't come with a title, a raise, 
or even a thank you.
 
It came when a project went sideways.
 
The assigned leader was overwhelmed.
The team was drifting.
Everyone was avoiding the mess.
 
Then someone said, almost casually,
"Can you help clean this up?"
 
No promotion.
No spotlight.
Just a problem no one wanted.
 
So I stepped in.
I created clarity.
I aligned people.
I removed the noise.
 
And suddenly, leadership could breathe again.
 
A few weeks later, I found myself in rooms I'd never been invited into before.
 
Same job title.
Same org chart.
But a completely different level of trust.
 
That's when it clicked:
 
You don't "earn" senior leadership by doing more.
You get recognized for thinking differently.
 
Executives don't move you up because you're helpful.
They move you up because you reduce uncertainty.
 
They quietly watch for:
✔ Who brings order when things get chaotic
✔ Who speaks in priorities, not tasks
✔ Who sees the consequences before they hit
 
This is the shift we build inside the Pathway to Senior Leadership workshop.
 
Not more tasks.
Not more pressure.
Not more "executive presence theatre".
 
But the real, practical work of becoming the person senior leaders turn to when it matters.
 
We dig into:
✅ How to lead with influence before you have authority
✅ How to reposition yourself from dependable doer to strategic partner
✅ How to create trust signals that decision-makers can’t ignore
 
And here's the truth no one admits:
 
Your work isn't the ceiling.
Your positioning is.
 
Change how you're perceived,
and suddenly the rooms that felt closed
start opening on their own.
 
We start soon.
20 spots.
Last edition in 2025.
 
👇
https://lnkd.in/dt2CBTQU

"Why fit a mold that was never built for you?"
 
That question got louder every time I heard:
 
"Stop making waves."
"Keep your head down."
"Just be grateful."
 
But I wasn't being difficult.
I was being honest.
 
Because what they called stability
felt more like stillness.
 
And what they called patience
felt more like postponement.
 
So I stopped chasing approval and started doing this instead:
 
1️⃣ Use the silence
Silence isn't empty, it's a signal.
It gives you space to ask better questions and plot smarter moves.
 
2️⃣ Feel stuck in your role?
Use the stall.
Try new skills. Build side projects. Reclaim your momentum.
 
3️⃣ Watch others leap ahead?
Don't copy, study.
What worked for them might not work for you.
But their moves are still data.
 
4️⃣ Criticism stings?
That's normal.
But the sting is often insight in disguise.
Let it sharpen you, not shut you down.
 
5️⃣ Feel alone in how you think?
That's a clue.
Leaders don't emerge in crowds. They grow in solitude.
That discomfort? It means you're on the edge of becoming.
 
You don't rise by playing it safe.
You rise by staying true when it's hardest to.
 
📨 Join leaders who read Leadership Bits and Pieces every Saturday
For leadership moves that challenge the system.
👉

Open article: Ready to transition from middle-management? by leadership-bits-and-pieces.kit.com

Ready to transition from middle-management?

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