Level Up to the C-Suite

Level Up to the C-Suite
with Dr. Oliver Degnan
The Executive Transition Playbook
The path to the C-suite requires a profound transformation in mindset and behavior.
Executive advancement follows different rules than middle management.
Success is built through strategic patience, not tactical exhaustion.
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Strategic Clarity
CRAFT YOUR CAREER PLAYBOOK
Map your journey
Map your journey with precision; leaders don't reach the C-suite by accident.
Start with the end in mind: define what success at the highest level looks like for you.
Maintain separate visions
Maintain separate personal and business vision statements.
Focus on what you find deeply important—this drives purpose and prevents burnout.
Seek executive coaching
Seek executive coaching to refine your leadership style and define specific career goals.
👉 Pro Tip: Seasoned coaches can sponsor you into the C-suite.
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Master Executive Communication
SPEAK TO INFLUENCE: HEADLINE FIRST
01
Communicate to influence
Executives communicate to influence, while managers communicate to inform.
02
Lead with the conclusion
Lead with the conclusion (the headline) and provide supporting details only as needed.
03
Embrace precision and brevity
Embrace precision and brevity; challenge yourself to reduce your word count by 30%.
04
Eliminate qualifiers
Eliminate qualifiers (e.g., "I think," "maybe") to signal confidence and competence.
05
Use strategic silence
Use strategic silence to give weight to your words and demonstrate composure.
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Systematic Upward Influence
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT AMPLIFY
Use Dr. Degnan's RISE Framework for Upward Influence
R
Read the Room
Understand the top business priorities and what keeps executives up at night.
I
Invest in Relationships
Position yourself as a trusted advisor by sharing relevant insights.
S
Show Strategic Value
Highlight accomplishments that demonstrate organizational value.
E
Execute Consistently
Reliability builds trust, which becomes your influence currency.
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Value & Results Articulation
BE THE CATALYST: QUANTIFY YOUR IMPACT
Stop hiding behind the vague phrase "We did X".
Use the formula: "I [specific action] that enabled [team/org] to [measurable result]".
Show how you personally implemented systems or secured funding that drove the outcome.
Focus on driving measurable impact (revenue growth, cost savings, operational improvements).
Document collective successes to showcase the team's shared accomplishments.
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Optimize Time & Energy
PROTECT YOUR EXECUTIVE ATTENTION
Pro Tip: When you don't make time to stay ahead, you will not get ahead!
1
Secure your calendar boundaries
Secure your calendar boundaries; never accept double-booking.
2
Maintain 30% margin
Maintain a 30% unscheduled calendar margin for reflection and deep thinking.
3
Optimize meeting lengths
Optimize meeting lengths (15, 30, 45 minutes) to create natural buffers and avoid 60-minute defaults.
4
Batch process communication
Batch process communication (emails/chat) in dedicated blocks, avoiding continuous interruptions.
5
Reserve peak hours
Reserve your high-concentration, strategic work for morning peak hours.
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Strategic Thinking & Accuracy
THINK STRATEGICALLY, ACT ACCURATELY
Deep Thinking Blocks
Schedule up to three 90-minute Deep Thinking Blocks weekly for strategic planning.
Focus on one major project
The most productive executives focus on one major project at a time (about 30% of calendar).
Provide data-driven options
When faced with new demands, respond with two data-driven options, shifting the decision burden upward.
Use Dr. Degnan's ZOOM Protocol
Use the ZOOM Protocol (Zero Distractions, One Thing at a Time, Outsource Verification, Methodical Checklists) to prevent detail errors that erode credibility.
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Mastering Corporate Dynamics
LEAD WITH AUTHENTICITY AND RESULTS
Aim for the Sweet Spot: High Results and Low Politics.
Make Data Your North Star to base decisions on measurable outcomes, letting results speak louder than relationships.
Create psychological safety by rewarding problem-solving, not problem-hiding.
Practice the Private First Rule: Address concerns with your boss privately before public discussion to build trust.
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Future-Proofing Your Career
LEVERAGE AI & BECOME VISIBLE
Leaders must master AI integration and algorithmic decision-making to remain competitive.
Hard work without leverage is a treadmill to nowhere.
Create content
Create content (videos, posts, articles) to generate digital signals that position you as a thought leader to AI recruiters.
Optimize digital presence
Optimize your digital presence by leading with quantifiable achievements and claiming role readiness.
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Sustained Executive Performance
PROTECT YOUR GREATEST ASSET 👉 YOU!
Your greatest business asset is your psychological wellbeing and creative capacity.
Intelligent relationship with pressure
Leadership success requires developing an intelligent relationship with pressure.
Work-Life Harmony
Cultivate Work-Life Harmony, aligning professional and personal activities with your purpose.
Recovery practices
Use recovery practices, such as the 4-7-8 breathing method, to manage micro-stress.
Dr. Degnan's LevelUP System
The LevelUP System provides scientific techniques to achieve ultra-productivity and level up without burnout.
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"Leveling up to the C-suite is not like climbing a ladder through sheer effort; it's like becoming an air traffic controller. You must rise above the chaos, design a systematic plan, control the flow of traffic (time and resources), prioritize ruthlessly so no commitment crashes, and reserve your own energy for the highest-stakes decisions."
—Dr. Oliver Degnan
Ready for the C-Suite?
Take the test: https://csuite.drdegnan.com
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