Senior leaders often keep their networking and professional development activities hidden, even though these actions can enhance both their effectiveness and that of their teams. Engaging in activities like maintaining professional connections, sharing work updates, speaking at events, and mentoring can significantly benefit a leader’s career. However, as observed by an executive career coach and former headhunter, it’s uncommon to see senior leaders openly participating in these activities during work hours. Instead, they tend to schedule them discreetly, often choosing times when their supervisors are not present. This tendency to keep such beneficial activities under wraps highlights a missed opportunity for leaders to visibly engage in career-enhancing practices.
QUESTION: Why do you think senior leaders might choose to hide their networking and professional development activities, and how could this impact their teams?
Why you shouldn’t treat career development like a guilty secret
