Why 90% of Executives Miss Their Ideal Role — and How to Avoid It
The biggest career mistake high-level executives make isn't lack of ambition — it's lack of visibility. If you're reading this, chances are you're not average. You're experienced, driven, and capable of delivering serious value. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Over 90% of executive leaders miss out on their ideal next role. Not because they’re not qualified. But because they’re not positioned for it. So let’s dig into why that happens — and how to avoid being part of that 90%.
The Problem: Great Leaders Are Invisible When It Matters Most
It’s counterintuitive, but true: Most top executives treat their job search like a secret mission. They polish a CV, reactively apply to roles that show up in their feed, and quietly hope the right person finds them. But here’s the reality: The ideal roles — the strategic, high-impact, values-aligned roles — aren’t advertised. They’re created, not listed. They emerge from visibility, trust, and timing. And if no one knows who you are, what you bring, or what kind of problem you solve — you’ll never be considered. Not because you don’t have what it takes, but because you weren’t even in the conversation.
The Shift: From Seeking Roles to Attracting Alignment
The 10% who land their ideal role do something radically different: They position themselves with intention. They build a signal in the market that attracts the right attention. They don’t wait. They show up — before roles are announced, before companies even realize they need them. They become the obvious choice, because they’ve made their value impossible to ignore.
What It Takes: The Executive Visibility Blueprint
If you're serious about landing the right next step — not just another job — here's what needs to happen:
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Clarity → Define what ideal actually means to you. Not just salary or title — but impact, culture, autonomy, and growth.
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Positioning → Craft a LinkedIn profile, one-pager, and personal narrative that broadcasts your value to the right people.
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Strategic Visibility → Engage your network. Start meaningful conversations. Show up where decisions are being made — not where jobs are being posted.
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Proactive Discovery → Use warm and cold outreach not to chase roles, but to generate interest and uncover hidden opportunities.
You Don’t Need to Wait for the Right Role. You Need to Create It.
This is what I help executive leaders do every day. And I can tell you with certainty: You’re closer than you think. But only if you stop operating like a best-kept secret and start leading your visibility like you lead your business.
🧭 Take the Executive Career Screening here
This 3-minute assessment will pinpoint what’s blocking your visibility — and show you how to shift from overlooked to obvious.
