For years, I believed that hard work was enough. And I worked my tail off to do my best work.
Like many women, I was taught that if I put my head down, delivered great results, and stayed focused on doing excellent work, my efforts would be recognized and rewarded. Promotions would come. Opportunities would appear. Leaders would notice.
That’s what we’re told, isn’t it?
Work hard. Be competent. Deliver results. And that worked for me for a while. I was recognized for my achievements and rewarded with promotions and raises.
Then, someone less qualified got promoted for a VP position I thought I deserved. I was the most qualified. I had the best track record.
And I started to understand that decisions weren’t made based on work alone. I had a reality check. I learned that decisions unrelated to performance were often made behind closed doors.
I realized certain people who got ahead had influence despite not being the smartest or hardest-working people in the room.
And I began to understand what I was missing.
The answer is often hidden in the workplace’s unwritten rules.
These rules are rarely discussed openly. They’re not in employee handbooks. No one explains them during onboarding. Yet they shape careers every single day.
Women, especially those who have spent decades believing in meritocracy, often find themselves at a disadvantage because they aren’t taught to recognize these dynamics. Instead, many of us continue playing by the official rules while others are succeeding because they understand the unofficial ones.
Understanding workplace politics isn’t about manipulation.
It’s about understanding how decisions are actually made.
And once you understand that reality, you can navigate bias more effectively, identify genuine allies, and build the network of support necessary to advance your career.
Read the full article on Substack.com.
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