No 1. What to Discuss with Your Skip (or Higher) Manager?

Hi everyone!

As we kick off the new year, it’s a perfect time to set fresh goals and align your efforts with your career aspirations. Many of us are gearing up for impactful conversations with our managers, skip-level leaders, and even senior leadership. 🎉 These discussions aren’t just about mapping out the year ahead — they’re invaluable opportunities to reflect on your accomplishments, showcase the value you bring to the organization, and gain insights that can shape your professional growth.

Whether it’s discussing your progress, aligning on priorities, or understanding the bigger picture of the company’s vision, these conversations set the tone for the months ahead. They also provide a unique chance to build visibility with leadership, strengthen your relationships with key decision-makers, and position yourself for new opportunities.

So as you prepare for these meetings, take the time to reflect, plan, and think strategically. How can you highlight your contributions from the past year? What goals and challenges will help you grow in the year ahead? And most importantly, how can you align your efforts with the company’s broader mission to make an even greater impact? 🙌

With the right preparation and mindset, these discussions can be a powerful catalyst for your career journey in the year ahead. Let’s embrace this new beginning with energy, focus, and purpose! 🌟

Recently, I had a chance to sit down with my skip-level manager and reflect on my role, career goals, and growth trajectory. It was a powerful experience that reinforced the value of being intentional and prepared for these meetings.

I thought I’d share some insights and tips on how to have impactful conversations with your skip-level manager, as well as those higher up in the chain of command (e.g., +2, +3, or even +n levels). These conversations are your chance to build visibility, gain clarity on the bigger picture, and ensure your contributions are aligned with the company’s goals.