Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

Why playing it safe costs women their next promotion

October 20, 2025

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, I share practical tips and scripts to help more women win so you land the roles you want, thrive with confidence at work and grow faster.

You’ve likely been told to be patient, prove yourself, or trust the process. So you do.

You work hard. You deliver. You keep things running smoothly. Without realizing it, you start playing it safe.
​
You take on projects you’ve already mastered. You wait to be noticed instead of speaking up. You hold back on the ideas that could actually set you apart because you worry it's not perfect yet.

Playing it safe might protect you from mistakes, but it also protects you from growth.​
​
It keeps you dependable, not recognized the way you deserve. Plus, it quietly convinces decision-makers that you’re great where you are, not ready for what’s next. This is the trap I see so many women in corporate fall into.

And that’s exactly what’s costing you your next promotion.

Most women don’t stall because they lack capability. They stall because they’ve unknowingly become too good at being comfortable. You become the steady hand, the go-to if you will, but not the one your leadership team pictures leading the next big initiative.

Every time you say "I’ll wait until I’m fully ready" or "I don’t want to overstep", you’re reinforcing the perception that you’re not ready for more. Decision-makers start to assume you’re content where you are.

This is exactly what happened to my client who had been passed over for 5 promotions before working together. She was driving results, a great team player, getting positive feedback and yet, wasn't stretching herself enough especially towards senior leaders.

Within a few short weeks of role-playing together, creating dedicated scripts for 1:1 conversations with senior leaders, and identifying her biggest growth gaps, we converted her divisional President into her biggest advocate. This not only opened up 2 internal promotion opportunities for her within 3 weeks of that conversation, it also led her to secure her dream senior leadership promotion.

Because the women who rise fastest? They aren’t the ones who do everything "right."
​
They’re the ones who are willing to step into the unfamiliar, speak up before they feel ready, and make moves that stretch them beyond their comfort zone. Here's how.

3 ways to stop playing it safe so you level up faster

1. Lean into the "new" as opportunity, not fear

The fastest way to grow your career opportunities is to deliberately choose what feels slightly uncomfortable, but enough to make you pause and think "I’ve never done this before."

This isn’t about randomly saying yes to everything. That will spread you really thin, really fast. It's about being strategic to stretch your skills, visibility, and confidence.

Here's some of my go-to examples:

• Volunteer for stretch assignments that put you in front of senior leaders or cross-functional teams.
• Change your routines at work (i.e. present in meetings you’d normally just attend, run a client call solo, or lead a cross-department initiative).
• Expand your exposure by networking with people in other business units, regions, or even industries to broaden your thinking and opportunities.
• Request to shadow or co-lead on projects to contribute fresh perspectives.

The key is to see every new moment as a micro-experiment, one where you collect feedback, adjust, and grow. Over time, you build a reputation as someone who can adapt, lead, and thrive in any environment.

This is the exact strategy I used with one of my clients who pushed past her comfort zone for networking and building her visibility. We doubled-down on communication scripting, relationship-building and did role-play practice daily. Within just a few short days, she received a job referral, multiple recommendations and an incredible new mentoring opportunity.

2. Trade execution for innovation

Innovation isn’t just about inventing something new.

In my work at Microsoft where I coach high-performing teams, I show them this can be about looking at existing challenges with a fresh lens and having the courage to suggest a different path.

This often means challenging how things have always been done in a way that is constructive, data-backed, and focused on better outcomes.

Here's some quick innovation examples to inspire from:

• Run small-scale pilots to test ideas before requesting larger investments.
• Invite cross-functional input early to gain perspectives you might miss.
• Challenge assumptions by asking "What if we approached this from a different angle?"
• Pair data with creativity and back your ideas with numbers to gain credibility and buy-in.
• Model "learning in public" by sharing experiments and what you’ve learned, even when imperfect.

Instead of waiting for permission to innovate, start creating space for it yourself.

[Check out my free LinkedIn Learning nano-course on Nano Tips to Fast-Track Your Career]

3. Prepare for the role you want, not the one you’re in

Being great at your current role is the baseline, not the differentiator. The next level of your career isn’t earned just through more output. It’s earned when decision-makers can already see you operating there.

Look, you can be the most capable person in the room, but if you keep showing up as the role you have, not the one you want, people will keep associating you with your current level.

Preparation isn’t just about skill, it’s about perception. Every project, meeting, and conversation is a chance to signal readiness to show that you’re already thinking, communicating, and leading like the next level.

This exact shift helped my client secure her new job offer and negotiated for an additional $15K raise on top of an amazing 6-figure comp package that was a major step up from her current position.

Here’s how to start positioning yourself today:

• Keep a visible "wins" list like key metrics, praise emails, and project outcomes you can reference in reviews, interviews, or high-stakes conversations.
• Reframe your inner voice and swap "I’m not ready" for "I'm going to try it anyways."
• Seek advocates and sponsors who will mention your name in rooms you’re not in.
• Use high-impact language to tie your contributions to business results.
• Ask for opportunities instead of waiting for them to be offered to you.

The more you show up like the next level now, the easier it is for leadership to picture you there next.

Because promotions don’t happen when you’re ready. They happen when you’re recognized as ready.

You've got this!

This week’s mission: Use my 3 action steps to grow faster instead of playing it safe.

• Spot your comfort zone in action. Notice 1 moment this week where you defaulted to what feels safe. Maybe you stayed quiet in a meeting, didn’t volunteer for something new, or avoided sharing an idea because you weren’t "fully ready". Write it down. ​
  ​
• Stretch beyond it. Choose 1 small, intentional action that feels slightly uncomfortable but expands your exposure. For example, speak first in your next meeting, share a recommendation with senior leadership, or ask your manager for a stretch opportunity.
  ​
• Anchor your growth in visibility. After you take that step, reinforce it. Send a short recap or update linking your contribution to business outcomes. For example, "Following today’s discussion, I’ll move forward with the pilot to improve process efficiency by 12%. Excited to share more progress with you next week."

If you found this newsletter valuable, please share it with a friend! ​
​
​And if you’re not already subscribed to my newsletter, you can do so here: