Influence, integrity, and the career moves that matter

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Listen to this week’s podcast episode, Ep.183: The Art of Influence: How Coaching, Integrity, & Leadership Grow Your Career, with Daphne Valcin, using the player below, or click here.

Your Career Is Happening, But Is It On Purpose?

Most people aren’t taught how to be intentional about their careers (or their leadership). They learn to work hard, stay busy, and wait their turn. But that approach rarely gets you where you want to go, and this week’s guest, Daphne Valcin, learned that lesson firsthand.

Now a successful executive coach and speaker, Daphne openly shared how her early years in the workforce were full of action but low on strategy. She was working, achieving, and contributing, but she wasn’t thinking so much about where it was all leading. And like many others, she realised too late that effort without alignment often leads to frustration.

This week’s episode is full of smart, simple ways to shift from “hope it happens” to “here’s how I’m making it happen.”

Document the Wins. Ask for the Promotion.

Among other things, Daphne coaches leaders to get serious about documenting results. Not just tasks or projects, actual outcomes.

What changed because of your work?

What problems did you solve?

What results can you speak to with clarity?

You can’t expect others to remember everything you’ve done, that’s your job. And you can’t assume a promotion will land in your lap just because you’ve stayed busy.

Daphne’s advice? Start tracking your impact. Not just for your manager, for your own confidence too. Being able to tell your story clearly is part of being promotion-ready, especially in fast-moving teams where silence is mistaken for satisfaction.

As Daphne put it: are you actually able to articulate the value you’re bringing?

Mentors, Coaches, and Leading with Help

There’s a quiet myth in leadership that the higher you go, the more you should already know. Daphne pushes back on that, reminding us that coaching isn’t a fix for failure, more a tool for growth.

She shares how mentorship changed the course of her career and how the best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers, they’re the ones who stay open to support, learning, and feedback.

Whether it’s a formal mentor, a peer, or an executive coach, the people around you can sharpen your thinking, catch your blind spots, and help you prepare for the roles you want; not just the one you’re in now.

Work-Life Balance vs Work-Life Harmony

The episode also touches on one of the most relatable leadership challenges: the tension between ambition and well-being.

Daphne doesn’t pretend to have it all perfectly balanced, and we talked ‘work-life balance’ (a myth, in my view!) vs ‘work-life harmony’ (much more achievable!). We talked about recognising that some seasons we will lean more into work, others into family or rest. The goal isn’t equal time but honest alignment.

The key is making those trade-offs visible. Talk about them. Own them. And lead others in doing the same; especially if you’re managing people who also have lives, responsibilities, and values outside the job.

Be Real And Be Clear

One of the strongest themes in the conversation is the power of authenticity in leadership. Not the polished, “vulnerable” version that sometimes gets rewarded online but the quiet, grounded kind that shows up consistently.

Daphne’s story reminds us that leadership isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mold. It’s about knowing your strengths, naming your values, and having the courage to lead in a way that matches both.

That means being clear with your team.

Setting expectations.

Naming the support you need.

And being honest when something doesn’t feel aligned anymore.

If You’re a Leader With Goals ➡️ Start Here

Whether you’re chasing a promotion, adjusting to a new role, or trying to lead more effectively where you are now, here are a few steps you can take this week:

• Document your value: Write down three recent wins. What’s changed because of your work?

• Ask for support: Reach out to a mentor, peer, or coach and book a conversation.

• Review your goals: Are they clear? Do they still make sense for where you are now?

• Lead with openness: Share one way you’re working on your own development and invite your team to do the same.

Final Thoughts

As we know, leadership isn’t a title, it’s a set of habits. So if you want to grow in your role (or step into the next one) you can’t wait for permission, or leave it until after the promotion, you need to get intentional and proactive now.

Daphne’s story is proof that your influence grows when your strategy does. If you’ve been drifting or waiting, maybe this is your call to step in and lead with more clarity, more purpose, and more of your real self.

Leading with Integrity, by another name!

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Take a listen to the whole conversation, there’s plenty to learn from Daphne this week: https://smartlink.ausha.co/leading-with-integrity/ep-183-the-art-of-influence-how-coaching-integrity-leadership-grow-your-career-with-daphne-valcin-leadership (if you prefer video, you can also watch on YouTube, here).

Tune in next week for a my chat with multiple business founder, international entrepreneur, design, branding and marketing expert Vaishali Shah, who is celebrating 25 years in business this year, and has some insightful lessons to share from that experience.

And until then, thanks for reading and: Be a Leader, Not a Boss!

- David

In case you don’t know me that well, I’m David Hatch and I’m here to help new managers and first-time founders with their leadership skills, so they can become leaders not bosses, lead with integrity, and build happier, higher performing teams, more effective organisations, and, ultimately: successful businesses.

Be less Lex Luthor. Be more Janeway (just not from the Tuvix episode).
Become the leader you wish you’d had, and come join my online leadership community. If you have a healthy love of sci-fi and want to learn more about leadership, then this is the community for you. Solopreneurs also welcome 😉
Here’s the link: Integrity Leaders: Community membership and learning, for new leaders or first-time founders.