Ever felt like decisions about your career were being made at the golf course, pub, or closed-door chats you weren’t invited to? 🙋🏽‍♀️ This week, we dive into the world of workplace favoritism — those hidden cliques and “inner circles” that quietly shape who gets promoted, who gets the stretch projects, and who gets left out.

👉 In this episode, we unpack:

✅ How favoritism shows up at work (and why it’s more than just harmless buddy culture)

✅ The hidden cost of cliques on career progression, team morale, and company culture

✅ What to do if you’re not in the “in group” — practical strategies to shift from resentment to proactive relationship-building

✅ The 3-Step Clique Navigation Check-In (observe, engage, diversify) to protect your career and your energy

This isn’t about playing games. It’s about awareness, choice, and building relationships that lift you up instead of locking you out.

✨ Whether you’ve been excluded, unfairly favored, or just caught in the middle — this episode will give you tools to handle favoritism without losing your edge (or your sanity).

Remember: your value isn’t defined by the clique — it’s defined by the impact you bring to the table.

Resources & Mentions:

Mentions:

• Forbes Article - Golf Gap: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethpearson/2024/04/11/why-closing-the-golf-gap-is-an-important-step-for-equity-in-the-workplace/
• Keith Ferrazzi - Co-elevation: https://www.keithferrazzi.com/media-mentions/co-elevation-how-to-achieve-positive-leadership-impact-without-pre-established-authority

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