You’re excelling at work, hitting deadlines, and putting in long hours — yet your boss overlooks your contributions. You feel stuck, unseen, and unsure how to move forward.
That’s the exact problem executive coach Melody Wilding helps people solve. In her work with thousands of professionals, she’s discovered that career success isn’t just about hard skills. It’s about mastering what she calls “workplace psychology” — the art of managing up, navigating office dynamics, and advocating for yourself.
Wilding shares her framework of 10 essential conversations that every professional needs to have in order to thrive. From building alignment with your boss to negotiating pay, she explains how communication is the key to visibility, advancement, and higher income.
You’ll learn:
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How to decode your boss’s management style — and adapt without losing yourself
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Why setting boundaries makes you more respected, not less
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The difference between showcasing your work and bragging
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How to start the “pay me more” conversation months before your review
Her insights are backed by surveys of more than 12,000 professionals, plus 15 years of coaching high-achievers across Fortune 500 companies, academia, and healthcare.
Whether you want to earn a promotion, negotiate a raise, or simply feel more confident at work, Wilding’s framework gives you the scripts, strategies, and confidence to step into your professional power position.
Resources:
Managing Up by Melody Wilding: managingup.com
Want more tips to get that sweet raise? Learn more.
Timestamps:
Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.
(00:00) The 10 Conversations Framework
(02:37) Shifting Workplace Dynamics
(06:11) Key Conversations for Alignment
(10:02) Understanding Your Boss’s Priorities
(12:02) Mapping Stakeholder Influence
(15:28) Visibility and Proximity Bias
(20:31) Managing Shifting Priorities
(22:11) Understanding Boss Archetypes
(28:01) Navigating Personality Frameworks
(32:06) Articulating Your Communication Style
(35:03) Taking Ownership and Suggesting Ideas
(39:59) Building a Reputation Through Ownership
(45:03) Setting and Framing Boundaries
(56:01) The Ripple Effect of Unaddressed Issues
(59:00) Feedback Conversations
(01:03:02) Recapping the Framework Steps
(01:11:09) Building Your Story Bank
(01:18:01) Advancement and Compensation Conversations
(01:25:15) Framing Your Compensation Request
(01:29:00) Navigating Policy-Based Responses
(01:31:51) Creative Compensation Solutions
(01:34:29) Knowing When to Leave
(01:36:13) Assessing Future Opportunities
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