1. Hit the Reset ButtonWhatever happened between January and now - let it go. Maybe you didn't get the promotion. Maybe you've been stuck in execution mode. Maybe your career goals got buried under a mountain of meetings. This is your moment to pause and realign - not to check out, but to consciously choose what to pursue next. Here's how to do it: - Audit your goals. What did you set out to achieve this year? Is it still relevant? Has anything shifted in your priorities, role, or company strategy?
- Recommit - or reimagine. Choose one core objective that still excites you. Something that would make you proud if you moved the needle on it by September.
- Simplify your path. Cut the noise. Identify 2 - 3 actions that would directly move you toward that goal. Less is more here - it's not about doing everything, it's about doing the right things.
Summer offers a rare pause - not just to reflect, but to course correct. Give yourself permission to reset without guilt. 2. Reposition How You're PerceivedExecutive roles don't go to those who wait their turn. They go to the people who are already operating at the next level - and are seen that way. Summer is the perfect time to shift perception, because fewer meetings = more space to show up differently. And people actually notice small changes when the noise dies down. Start with this: How do people talk about you when you're not in the room? Now ask: How do you want them to talk about you by Q4? If there's a gap - fix it on purpose. Here's how: - Refine your narrative. Start documenting your impact with clear business outcomes. Instead of "led a project," say "streamlined onboarding, saving 40 hours a month across three teams."
- Shift your inputs. Prepare 2 - 3 insight-driven points for every meeting. Move from "reporting progress" to "guiding strategy."
- Choose a perception project. Volunteer for a small, visible initiative that lets you stretch into a more strategic or cross-functional role - even if informally.
And don't forget: your executive presence isn't just how you talk - it's what you choose to talk about. Use summer to reframe your value so others see your potential more clearly. 3. Take Advantage of Light CalendarsThis is the move most people skip - and it's the one that separates the performers from the power players. Right now, senior leaders are more available. Calendars are lighter. The usual meeting chaos is on pause. This is the perfect time to build relationships that will pay off in Q4. Here's how to take action: - Schedule career check-ins. Reach out to 2 - 3 key stakeholders or mentors and ask for a 20-minute summer sync. Keep it light: share what you're working on, ask how you can support them, and float one strategic idea you're thinking about.
- Strengthen weak ties. Who have you lost touch with this year? Send a quick note with a relevant article, a compliment on something they shared, or a small win you thought they'd appreciate. Reconnection doesn't have to be awkward - it just has to be intentional.
- Use visibility touch points. If you've been working on something meaningful, don't wait for a formal review. Send a short "quick update" email to your manager or skip-level leader showing the result and the impact.
People don't promote strangers. And by the time performance reviews kick in, it's already too late to start building trust. Use the quiet to build familiarity now. | 
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