In an era of constant restructuring, many professionals have started asking a quiet but urgent question: how do I protect my career without burning myself out? Working harder is no longer a reliable strategy. Being indispensable through sheer effort does not directly lead to advancement. Promotion insurance today comes from relevance, visibility, and trust, not from doing the most work.
Why “working harder” stopped working
Research from organizational psychology shows that high performers are often given more work rather than more security. In unstable environments, leaders prioritize roles that clearly connect to business outcomes. So, efforts that stay invisible or operational are easier to remove than impact that shapes direction.
Long hours may signal commitment, but they rarely signal strategic value. Decision-makers tend to protect people who influence outcomes, reduce uncertainty, and help others make better decisions. That is the shift you should focus on right now.
Signs that your job is at risk
Think in terms of leverage
Leverage means your work creates value beyond your own output. A leveraged role changes how decisions are made, how resources are allocated, or how risk is managed.
Ask yourself three questions:
- Does my work inform decisions at least one level above me?
- Would the organization notice if my perspective disappeared?
- Do others rely on my judgment or just my execution?
If the answers lean toward execution only, that is a signal that you need to reposition.
Anchor yourself to priorities that survive reorgs
Always keep in mind that roles that are tied to temporary initiatives tend to be vulnerable whereas roles that are tied to enduring priorities tend to be more protected.
Look for work connected to:
- Revenue generation or retention
- Risk reduction
- Regulatory exposure
- Customer trust
- Talent stability during change
You do not need to own these areas fully but you do need a visible connection to them. For example, someone in operations who translates efficiency gains into financial impact becomes more relevant than someone who simply keeps processes running.
Research on downsizing consistently shows that roles perceived as cost centers are cut faster than roles perceived as value multipliers.
Become a sense-maker
During uncertain times, leaders are frequently overwhelmed with information but short on clarity. The people who rise are those who help others understand what matters.
Sense-makers do three things well:
- They synthesize complex information into clear narratives.
- They name trade-offs explicitly.
- They help teams move forward without perfect answers.
This does not require a formal leadership role. Instead, it requires that no matter what your role is, you are able to offer perspective and that you have the confidence to share it. A short message that frames an issue clearly can carry more weight than weeks of execution.
Visibility is about timing and framing
Visibility is often misunderstood as self-promotion. In reality, it is about making your work legible to the right people at the right time.
Effective visibility follows a few principles:
- Share progress before results are final.
- Frame updates in terms of business impact.
- Connect your work to current leadership concerns.
For example, instead of reporting that a project is complete, explain what decision it enables or what risk it reduces. This positions you as someone who understands the bigger picture.
Studies on leadership perception show that people who communicate impact are rated as more senior than those who communicate activity, even when they output is similar.
Build sponsorship
Being well-liked is helpful but having someone who advocates for you is essential.
Sponsors are people who mention your name when you are not in the room. They connect you to opportunities and defend your value during talent discussions.
To build sponsorship:
- Work on problems your sponsor cares about.
- Make their success easier.
- Keep them informed without overwhelming them.
This is not a transactional relationship, but a professional alignment. Research on career advancement consistently shows that sponsorship plays a larger role in promotions than performance alone, especially at senior levels.
Set boundaries that signal confidence
Many professionals fear that saying no makes them expendable. In reality, clear boundaries often increase perceived seniority. The key is how you frame your boundaries. When you decline a task while redirecting to higher-value work shows judgment. On the other hand, overcommitting signals a lack of prioritization.
For example, saying “I can take this on if it aligns with our current priority around X” positions you as someone who thinks strategically, not someone who avoids work.
Document impact before you need it
Part of having insurance from reorganizations imply that you need to share the record of your impact before its needed. For that to be effective, you should keep a record of:
- Problems you helped solve
- Decisions you influenced
- Risks you mitigated
- Revenue or cost implications tied to your work
This should not only be shared during performance reviews but any time there is an informal talent conversation.
Research on layoffs shows that recall of contributions is often imperfect and biased toward recent or visible impact. So, keeping documentation readily available, helps you mitigate that bias.
Stay externally relevant
Promotion insurance also comes from knowing you have options. Professionals who maintain external relevance tend to negotiate better roles internally because they operate from choice rather than fear. In order to make this work, consider:
- Staying current on industry shifts
- Maintaining relationships outside your organization
- Being visible in professional conversations that matter
- Being active in professional and/or industry organizations
The real goal of promotion insurance
The goal is not to become untouchable. No one is. The goal is to be seen as valuable, thoughtful, and adaptable in ways that matter to the business. People who advance during unstable times are rarely the busiest. They are the clearest. They help others navigate complexity. They connect dots. They protect energy and direct it where it counts.
That is how careers keep moving forward, even when everything else feels uncertain.
If you want to learn more about this and other power skills, join our Step Up Women program.
