Episode 124 - How to handle missing out on the promotion you wanted

Episode 124 - How to handle missing out on the promotion you wanted

June 17, 2026 · 15 min · Season 7 · Episode 124

About this episode

This episode discusses how to cope with the disappointment of not receiving a desired promotion and how to navigate the workplace afterward.

How to handle missing out on the promotion you wanted You found out you didn't get it, and somewhere in the same breath you were already arranging your face into something gracious. The hard part wasn't that afternoon. It's the morning after, when you walk back into the same building, sit in the same meetings, and have to look entirely fine in front of the very people who watched you want it. That's the part no one prepares you for, and it's the part this episode is about. What you'll discover Why missing out on something you put your name to stings in a way an outside rejection never does The two quiet decisions people tend to make in the first fortnight that cost them the most Why "don't take it personally" and "there'll be other opportunities" are both perfectly true and completely useless right now How long to let yourself feel rotten, and why putting a deadline on it changes everything The one question to ask for feedback that beats "why didn't I get it" by a mile Perfect for any woman who's gone for something at work, not got it, and still has to show up the next day as though her week's going splendidly. Want more support with real-world leadership challenges? Head to How…

More episodes of Career Espresso

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Career Espresso podcast page.