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👉 The Problem
Meeting with senior leaders is one of the most powerful ways to advance your career, but nerves often get in the way.
The fear of saying the wrong thing or making a misstep feels too risky.
But avoiding it has a price: It can seriously stall your career and keep you from advancing at your company.
👉 The Big Small Thing
Here’s how to confidently reach out to a senior leader and leave a lasting great impression:
1️⃣ Ask about office hours: Shoot them a quick ping, “Hi X! Do you hold office hours?” If they do, great. If not, you might prompt them to say, “I don’t, but I probably should!” This could lead to a meeting slot anyway.
2️⃣ Keep your email short: Get to the point quickly. Senior leaders don’t have time for long emails. Keep it to 3 bullets max and under 150 words.
3️⃣ Be clear about your request: Whether you’re seeking advice, more responsibility, clarity on a team goal, or a promotion, be specific about what you want. If it’s a promotion, frame it as a “career development conversation.”
4️⃣ Get your manager’s buy-in: Have your manager review your draft email. This gets their support and allows them to make edits based on what they know about the senior leaders.
Remember, people need to weigh in to buy in. If they feel they participated in the email, they’ll feel invested in the outcome. (i.e. they might say in their next 1:1 with their boss, “How’d the meeting with [you] go? Isn’t she great?”)
5️⃣ Respect their time: Follow the “seniority/time inversion” rule: the more senior someone is, the less time you request.
Here’s a guideline:
- Boss: 30 min
- Boss’s boss: 20 min
- Boss’s boss’s boss: 15 min
- Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss: 10 min
Pro tip: If you ask for 10 minutes, it’s likely going to be 15 anyway. (It’s not practical for an admin to block something for 10 minutes.)
👉 How This Helps You Chase What You Want
Connecting with senior leaders opens doors and positions you as a proactive professional.
Use these 5 strategies to make a strong impression, get noticed, and create new opportunities for career growth.
Let’s do this,
Jenny
