149: #1 Leadership Lie Asian Americans Didn’t Learn Growing Up
Today, I’m talking about one of the biggest career myths many Asian American women grow up believing: your work will speak for itself. And honestly, it’s not bad advice. It probably helped you get pretty far. You worked hard. You delivered. You followed through. You became the person people could count on. But at a certain point, that strategy can stop working. You can have the title, the experience, and the track record, and still find yourself being treated like the person who executes rather than the person who leads. In this episode, I unpack why this happens, how cultural conditioning can reinforce the pattern, and why continuing to prove yourself through more work isn't necessarily going to change how people see you. Because getting promoted isn't just about doing good work. It's about knowing when to step forward, how to make your judgment visible, and how to recognize the moments that can change how you're perceived. I also share a simple way to start a conversation with your boss about your professional growth, so you're not waiting around hoping someone notices that you're ready for more. If you're tired of doing more without seeing the career movement you want, I invite you to apply for an Asian Authority Audit and connect with me on Instagram. THE TOP LEARNINGS IN THIS EPISODE: The No. 1 Leadership Lie for Asian Americans [00:01:34] How School Conditioning Influences Career Habits [00:02:13] Cultural Conditioning and Outsourced Motivation [00:03:51] The Pitfall of Being an Excellent Follower, Not a Leader [00:05:57] How to Proactively Position Yourself for Leadership [00:07:01] Tangible Steps: Setting Up for Growth Conversations [00:08:44] If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support! Authority Shift: You're not being overlooked because you're not capable. You’re being overlooked because of how your leadership is being interpreted in real time. Grab the private audio feed for Asian-American corporate leaders where I break down the exact moments your authority drops...and why it has nothing to do with confidence or communication. go.nicoletsong.com/shift Asian Authority Audit: If you are doing everything right at work—delivering results, being reliable, taking ownership—but still not being seen as a leader, this is where we identify why. Apply for a personalized audit to assess how you are being perceived by leadership. There are limited spots monthly, so grab yours here . Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504 For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast . Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback. Catch up with Nicole: Website: nicoletsong.com Subscribe to her newsletter Instagram: nicoletsong Tiktok: @nicoletsong_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/


