HBR Women at Work Series Collection (3 Books)

14

Advance in Your Career, Even When Your Boss Won’t Help

by Kristi Hedges

I once moderated a panel at a conference and asked the group of successful executives to describe someone who has been instrumental in their careers. Two panelists eagerly jumped in with stories of bosses who had mentored, encouraged, and opened doors for them. Then, hesitantly at first, the last person shared a far different experience.

She lamented that she’d never been lucky enough to work for someone like that, and at times felt that the lack of an effective boss was career-derailing—even a personal failure. At one point she had worked for a leader who started to coach her but was then replaced by someone with such a lack of political savvy that she learned to do ...