Picture this: It's December 2026. You're looking back at the year, and once again, you haven't moved your career forward.

Not really. You meant to. You had good intentions in January. But somehow, twelve months slipped by whilst you waited for the right moment, for your partners to give you clearer guidance, for your workload to calm down.

Meanwhile, your peer, the one who's arguably less technically brilliant than you, has just been told they're on the partnership track. Why? Because whilst you were waiting for permission, they just started.

The uncomfortable truth: you're waiting for permission that's never going to come. Partnership isn't a promotion where you wait your turn. It's a transition to business ownership. And business owners don't wait to be told what to do - they figure it out and get started.

In this episode, you'll discover why the Permission Trap is killing your career progression and what to do instead.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why partnership doesn't work like previous promotions (and why waiting for your turn will leave you stuck)

- The three things you're probably waiting for that will never arrive (and why your partners deliberately keep criteria fuzzy)

- What happens to your career when you defer action year after year (whilst less talented peers overtake you)

- How to give yourself permission to start before you feel ready (because confidence comes from doing, not before doing)

What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?

If you're thinking, 'I understand I need to stop waiting, but I'm genuinely unsure where to start', take our free Partnership Readiness Assessment. It takes about 12 minutes and gives you an instant report showing exactly which areas you need to focus on.

If you want structured support to create your career plan and actually implement it, our on-demand course "How to Truly Commit to Moving Your Career Forward" gives you the frameworks to build a plan you're motivated to execute, PLUS the tactics to create the time you need to work on it. You'll set your first ONE BIG FOCUS for the next 90 days and create habits that support your career progression.

What help is out there for you to progress your career in the professions?

If you're thinking, 'I get the theory, but I need more help navigating the politics and building my business case for partnership', our Progress To Partner Academy can help you.

That's precisely why we have a suite of courses in the Progress to Partner Academy to help you with this. For example, our course on building your business case for partnership gives you the frameworks to position yourself strategically. And our virtual masterclasses on managing the politics of partnership give you practical tools for this crucial period.

If you find this episode useful, don't forget to like it and then subscribe so you don't miss another episode.

Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Links:

Complete our FREE Partnership Readiness Assessment - https://careerprogressionreadiness.scoreapp.com to see where you have gaps in your own development - you'll get a personalised report with actions for what progress your career forward

Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertownsend/

Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.

Buy your copy of Poised for Partnership - https://amzn.to/3ETEYk3

Buy your copy of How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life - https://amzn.to/4iLxugM

Buy your copy of The Go To Expert - https://amzn.to/3HGPYlP

Buy your copy of The Financial Times Guide To Business Networking - https://amzn.to/406QPma

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