From an anxious, entry-level employee to Google executive and now New York Times bestselling author, I'm passionate about helping you achieve your personal & professional goals, unapologetically.
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The rule of 3+1: How to speak up and get promoted
A few weeks ago, I was a keynote speaker at an event alongside Will Guidara, the bestselling author of Unreasonable Hospitality, who also has a new Field Guide out to use with your team.
He said something that stuck with me:
“You might not have the authority, but you have the information.”
Will calls it the “Authority/Information Gap.”
It’s the reason senior leaders don’t notice you, even when you’re doing great work.
The Problem
You’re nervous to share your opinion with senior leaders.
You think: “I don’t have the authority. I’m not senior enough. Who am I to tell my boss’ boss what we should do?”
So you stay quiet. You present data. You wait for them to decide.
Meanwhile, someone else speaks up with a clear recommendation. And they get noticed and promoted.
The Big Small Thing
Use the Rule of 3+1: Give three options and make one recommendation.
You know which processes take 3 unnecessary steps. You’re the one talking to clients. You see what’s working. You have the information Will is talking about. Senior leaders don’t have that knowledge.
When you give three options and make a recommendation, you translate information into insight.
Here’s how the Rule of 3+1 works:
Instead of “Here’s the data on our Q2 priorities. What do you think we should focus on?”
Say: “Based on what I’m seeing, here are three options for Q2 priorities: