The Politics of Promotion by Bonnie Marcus Summary
Overview of The Politics of Promotion
In "The Politics of Promotion," Bonnie Marcus reveals why only 5.2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women and delivers the political playbook they don't teach you in business school - endorsed by industry leaders for helping women advance while staying authentically themselves.
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Key takeaways
The Hidden Game: Why Talent Isn't Enough
Ever wondered why that brilliant colleague keeps getting passed over for promotions while someone less qualified moves up? The answer lies in a force that shapes every organization but rarely appears in job descriptions: office politics. This invisible current determines who advances and who stagnates, regardless of talent or work ethic. The corporate world operates on an unspoken set of rules where performance is just one piece of a complex puzzle. Your ability to navigate relationships, understand power dynamics, and strategically position yourself matters just as much as - sometimes more than - your actual work. The meritocracy myth blindsides thousands of women daily. We're raised believing hard work and excellence naturally lead to recognition, but this childhood lesson doesn't translate to professional settings. Take Cathie Black's experience as NYC schools chancellor - despite her impressive track record as president of Hearst Magazines, she failed spectacularly because New Yorkers viewed her as an education outsider. Even highly competent female executives get blindsided by political barriers they never saw coming. Every organization has different dynamics, with each team having its own language, success metrics, and unwritten rules. You must adapt not just to advance but to maintain your position.
Political Savvy and Self-Promotion: Your Career Superpowers
Reading the Room: Decoding Workplace Dynamics
Strategic Networking: Your Career Accelerator
The Power of Sponsorship: Your Career Catalyst
Navigating Forward: Leadership Challenges for Women
Your Path Forward: Embracing the Political Game
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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