Table of Contents

• 9 - 5 Dilemma: I think my boss is a narcissist.

• Quick Poll - Are you unseen?

• The Skills You Need for 2030.

• Al Agents are Here 🤖

• What, So What, Now What?

If you’ve ever had a boss who made you second-guess your instincts, downplayed your achievements, or made everything about them—you’re not alone.

These dynamics are more common than most people talk about, and they can quietly chip away at your confidence and career growth over time.

Maybe your ideas only seem to matter when your manager repeats them. Maybe they celebrate others publicly but never acknowledge your work. Maybe you’re doing great on paper… but still being told you “lack polish,” or “need to work on executive presence.” (Translation: you're not playing the game.)

You start to wonder:

• Am I overreacting?

• Do they just have a strong personality?

• Should I be trying harder to manage up?

But deep down, you know: this isn’t about feedback, it’s about control.

And when narcissistic leadership is in play, the rules change. You can’t just work harder or be quieter and hope to get noticed.
You need to build visibility and protection outside of that dynamic.

Here’s What Narcissistic Bosses Often Do:

• Claim your work as their own

• Undermine your confidence while praising others publicly

• Gatekeep promotions or opportunities

• Only reward those who flatter, not those who deliver

In systems like these, waiting quietly to be noticed is a losing game. So what do you do?

Strategy Shift: Stop Relying on Gatekeepers
Whether the system is rigged by egos, your job is to make yourself visible and hard to erase.

Here’s How to Start Taking Up Space Again:

1. Document Your Impact Keep a private record of your wins. 🏅 
   Quantify your contributions. This isn’t just for job searching—it’s protection.

2. Share Strategically : 🌼 
   Find opportunities to present your work or share updates cross-functionally. When you widen your audience, you reduce the power of a single gatekeeper.

3. Strengthen Your LinkedIn Presence :💻️ 

   Narcissistic bosses may hoard internal credit, but external visibility is yours to build. Keep your profile up to date. Highlight results. Use clear, searchable language.

4. Use Self-Advocacy as Armor: 🪖 

   Learn to say:

   “Here’s what I’ve been working on, here’s the result, and here’s why it matters.”

   Not as a performance. As a boundary.

5. Stay Ready 🏃‍♀️ 
   Toxic leadership often leads to sudden reorgs, instability, or burnout. Keep your materials fresh so if you need to move, you're not starting from scratch.

You don’t need to feed someone’s ego to survive.
You need to see yourself clearly, and make it easy for others to see you, too.

Because in narcissistic environments, visibility is safety.
And long-term? It’s power.

What I’m Seeing Right Now

In coaching sessions, hiring conversations, and leadership teams I support, the same themes keep surfacing:

How to Start Building These Skills Now

You don’t need to overhaul your career.
You just need to build intentionally.

Here’s where to start:

• Practice Resilience and Agility 🏃‍♀️ 
  Stop waiting for things to “go back to normal.”

  Instead, ask: What did I learn from this pivot? How did I adapt?

  Make reflection and recovery part of your rhythm—not just your response to burnout.

• Become a Lifelong Learner (On Your Terms) 📚️ 
  Pick one area you’re curious about—AI, leadership, storytelling, customer experience.
  Set aside 20 minutes a week to learn.
  Small habits compound.

• Strengthen Your Human Skills 💪 
   Listening, conflict navigation, feedback conversations—these are differentiators.
  Try this: in your next meeting, focus on what’s not being said.
  That’s where the real skill shows up.

• Learn the Language of Tech 💻️ 
  You don’t have to become a data scientist.
  But knowing how tools like AI and automation impact your work? That’s power.
  Start with context—not code.

The Skill That Will Always Matter Most…

Self-Advocacy. 

It’s the skill that never goes out of style.
It’s how you name your strengths, show your impact, and communicate your value.

It’s not about being loud.

It’s about being clear.

“Here’s how I can help. Here’s the proof. Here’s why it matters.”

The people who can grow their skills and tell their story?
They’re the ones shaping the future—not waiting for it to happen to them.

What AI Agents Are Really Looking For

To stand out, you need to understand what’s driving the match. Most platforms scan for:

1. Keywords & Skills
   ✅ Match the job description’s language. Keywords are everything.

   ✅ Include both hard skills (like Python) and soft skills (like leadership)

2. Career Trajectory
   ✅ Consistent growth or role progression

   ✅ Job titles that signal scope and seniority

    

3. Location & Preferences
   ✅ Some filters screen by region or hybrid/remote availability

4. Online Presence
   ✅ A strong LinkedIn profile boosts visibility
   ✅ Bonus: portfolios, websites, or press mentions = extra context

    

5. Responsiveness
   ✅ Some tools even track how quickly you reply
   ✅ Being fast = being favored

How to Stay Competitive

Here’s what you can do today: 😉 

The Bottom Line:

AI can help you get discovered.

But your clarity, positioning, and proof of impact? That’s what gets you hired.

You already have the experience.
Make sure the systems can see it.

Don’t Be a Stranger!

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