7 Mindsets That Are Slowing Down Your Career Growth

And how to reframe them into empowering alternatives

Dear gentle readers,

In my 1-1 coaching work, I often hear from clients: “I do all the right things, but somehow I still am not getting put up for promotions. Why is that?”. After digging deeper, I can usually spot what’s getting in the way, and it’s often related to a mindset issue.

In today’s article, we’re breaking down 7 of the most common mental barriers and reframing them into empowering alternatives so you can take your career anywhere you want it to (whether it’s a promotion or other pursuits).

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Before we jump into discussing the 7 mindsets, I want to tell you that I’m back and I missed you. I’ve been MIA here and on LinkedIn because I decided to give my brain a much-needed creative break. Some exciting things have happened in the meantime:

• My promotion rejection story got featured by Business Insider and was later reshared by msn.com

• Cohort #4 graduated from my course “Impact through Influence”!

• Incredible progress made with my 1-1 coaching clients (you know who you are)

• Many cool projects are incubating (I will share more in due time).

Thanks for sticking around, now back to today’s article!

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Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

1. Solo Contributor Mindset

Have you ever been told that “getting things done” is the key to career success? It’s an excellent advice, but I find it incomplete.

Getting things done matters at a team level more than at an individual level.

You might be the best individual contributor on your team, delivering flawless work. However, if your team isn't launching products, your efforts won’t get the recognition they deserve.

Why is that? Because promotions reward measurable impact. Without a successful project launch, there are no active metrics to highlight your contributions. Your work needs visibility and tangible outcomes to truly make a difference.

Alternative mindset: I will prioritize get things done with others, not just by myself.

Help your team thrive, and your achievements will shine even brighter.

2. That’s Not My Job

This one’s a classic. We all have job descriptions, but sticking rigidly to them can be limiting.

There were countless times I had to step out of my software engineer role to keep projects on track. I created spreadsheets, sent internal newsletters, and even wrote a roles and responsibilities contract. Without going out of my way, we would’ve faced misalignments, conflicts, and delays.

Stepping up when needed can be a game-changer. Think of it as “glue work” — the stuff that holds everything together. Sometimes, it’s these out-of-scope contributions that make you indispensable.

Alternative mindset: I am willing to do things outside of my scope to make my projects successful.

Your willingness to go the extra mile shows leadership and initiative, key traits for any promotion.

3. My Work Will Speak for Itself

Ah, the silent worker’s mantra. You might think that putting your head down and churning out excellent work is enough. People will see your good work and you’ll get the recognition you deserve.

Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. If you don’t make your efforts visible, they might never be acknowledged at all.

Alternative mindset: I need to do the work and say that I did the work.

This isn’t bragging. It’s helping others see your contributions. So speak up, share your successes, and let your work be seen.

4. If I Do What I’m Told, I’ll Get Promoted

I’ve been there. I did everything I was told, expecting a promotion to follow naturally. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. I share the story in the “My First Promo Rejection, a Blessing in Disguise” article (paid).

I have to admit, it was a painful experience. I felt very disheartened, but an important insight came out of it:

Alternative mindset: I need to sit in the driver’s seat of my career growth.

Take charge of your development. Look at opportunities to showcase performance at the next level and influence your manager to support your growth, rather than expecting him to dictate your growth.

5. If I’m Not Getting Any Feedback, It Means I’m Doing Good

Silence isn’t always golden. If you’re not receiving feedback, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing well; it just means you don’t know how you’re actually doing.

Alternative mindset: I need to actively seek feedback.

Regular feedback helps you identify areas for improvement and shows that you’re committed to growth. Don’t wait for reviews; ask for feedback regularly from all directions (peers, managers, cross-functional partners, and even reports, if applicable).

The issue with asking for feedback is that most people approach it like this: “Do you have any feedback for me?”. This approach isn’t specific enough, nor does it give the other person time to prepare to answer, so the answer you’ll most likely receive is going to be “no”.

In “How to ask for feedback that will actually help you” I share a simple 5-step framework to follow when asking for feedback.

6. I’m Not Ready for the Next Level

This one is all about limiting beliefs. You might think you’re not ready for that promotion, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t.

I went from an engineer level 2 to Senior despite my doubts. I had been in the eng 2 role for only one year and thought that I would for sure get rejected if I applied. I pushed through those beliefs, applied for the promotion, and proved myself wrong.

Examples of limiting beliefs:

• I’m not qualified enough for this position.

• I’ve not been in the role long enough to try to get promoted.

• There are too many other people competing for me to stand out.

Alternative mindset: I might be ready for a promotion despite my doubts.

Challenge your limiting beliefs and seek opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone.

7. Picking the Devil You Know

Sometimes, the next promotion isn’t within your current company. Due to the sunk cost fallacy, we might not be even considering opportunities outside our current company. The amount of effort we already invested in our current role combined with the uncertainty of the unknown might seem larger than the upside potential a new role might bring us, hence we stay stuck.

While loyalty has its perks, job hopping can be a strategic move to climb the career ladder (including higher positions and better pay).

Alternative mindset: My next promotion might come from joining another company.

Don’t be afraid to explore new roles at different organizations if it means advancing your career.

Wrapping It Up

Career growth is as much about mindset as it is about skills and hard work.

Promotion decisions usually depend on many factors, some in our control and some out of our control. What we can do is our part to pave the way for our promotion through a mix of strategic actions and mental shifts including embracing teamwork, taking initiative, seeking feedback, promoting achievements, and always keeping an eye on new opportunities.

Keep pushing forward, and you’ll see the progress you’ve been aiming for.

Until next time,
Your Caring Techie

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