Success Lives on the Other Side of Cringe

08/12/2025 33 min Episodio 320
Success Lives on the Other Side of Cringe

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Episode Synopsis

Episode 320 - Discover the idea of “productive cringe” and how the slightly embarrassing moves you avoid are often the exact moves that unlock new roles, better opportunities, and a more sustainable career. Over the past few months, a phrase has appeared again and again in my coaching sessions with senior professionals. “I know I should post on LinkedIn, but that feels cringe.” “I know I should reach out to that person at my dream company, but that feels cringe.” “I know I should negotiate, but I do not want to be that person.” At first glance, these might sound like small worries. In reality, they tell us a great deal about how mid-career professionals are relating to their work in 2025. Cringe has become a powerful, if unspoken, organising force in many corporate careers. Not the justified embarrassment that comes from genuinely unprofessional behaviour, but the anticipatory discomfort we feel when we imagine colleagues rolling their eyes at our ambition. Read the full Blog on the Website31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Cringe Factor in Career Advancement00:53 Understanding Cringe and Its Impact07:21 Overcoming Cringe in Job Search12:06 Networking and Cold Outreach Cringe19:29 Negotiating Salary and Ambitions24:38 Reinventing Yourself and Embracing Change26:09 Learning from Leaders: Embracing CringeLinks mentioned in this episode:Subscribe to My NewsletterJoin my RB Lnkdn ClubThe LinkedIn post about being unemployed during the holiday seasonWork with me to have a clear narrativeArticle about cringe and Gen ZArticle about LinkedIn and cringeAbout the host, Renata...