It may seem like bad luck, but it's really a harsh reflection of workplace politics. When the big boss blocks your promotion, it’s often not because you're lacking in skills, but because you’ve become a pawn in the "power game".
The core reasons boil down to three points:
1. Faction Balance: The big boss worries that your direct supervisor's influence will grow, so they intentionally reject promotions to keep them in check;
2. Different Standards for Talent: Your direct supervisor values "work performance," while the big boss looks at "political positioning" and "big picture thinking";
3. Trust Barriers: The big boss lacks a deep understanding of you and hesitates to grant power to someone who's not part of their inner circle.
Workplace Iron Law: Your direct supervisor sets your lower limit, while the big boss sets your upper limit. If you don’t receive recognition from the big boss for a long time, instead of complaining, it's better to think about how to break out of the "small circle" and build trust across different levels.
The core reasons boil down to three points:
1. Faction Balance: The big boss worries that your direct supervisor's influence will grow, so they intentionally reject promotions to keep them in check;
2. Different Standards for Talent: Your direct supervisor values "work performance," while the big boss looks at "political positioning" and "big picture thinking";
3. Trust Barriers: The big boss lacks a deep understanding of you and hesitates to grant power to someone who's not part of their inner circle.
Workplace Iron Law: Your direct supervisor sets your lower limit, while the big boss sets your upper limit. If you don’t receive recognition from the big boss for a long time, instead of complaining, it's better to think about how to break out of the "small circle" and build trust across different levels.