The scary truth about staying where you are 😨


Hello Reader,

Here’s something I learned the hard way

Leadership isn’t just about being good at your job. It’s about being seen as someone who can handle more.

There was a time in my career where I was doing everything right. I was dependable. Organized. Got things done. I thought that was enough.

But I stayed stuck in the same role for years.

Why? Because I wasn’t showing up as a leader—I was just performing the tasks in front of me. No one was going to pull me aside and say, “You’re ready.”

You have to claim that.

And when I finally did? Everything changed.

Suddenly, I was invited into meetings I never had access to before.

I was trusted with bigger projects—ones that impacted the whole department, not just my corner of it.
My input started to carry weight. People began asking for my perspective.

And my paycheck? 💰 That reflected the shift, too.

So here’s my advice to you: If you want to move up, stop waiting to be chosen. Start building your leadership muscle now.

That’s why I created the Leadership Jumpstart Toolkit.

Inside, you’ll find:
✅ A Leadership Skills Assessment to identify what you already bring to the table
✅ Templates to help you delegate and prioritize like a pro
✅ Tools to engage your team and lead with confidence—whether you have the title or not

If you want more responsibility, more recognition, more pay—you need to be seen as someone who can drive results through people.

Remember, your future leadership role starts with what you do today.

—Donna Franklin West

The Virtual PM

Get the latest in Project Management with The Virtual PM newsletter: expert tips, tech trends, leadership insights, and tools like checklists, assessments, templates. 👉🏽 www.thevirtualpm.org 👉🏽 www.thevirtualpm.digital

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