Why this matters now

If you want to land the leadership role in 2026, your preparation starts now. More leaders than ever are burned out, underpaid, and overlooked. According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Trends, leadership roles posted in Q4 receive twelve times more applications than mid level roles.

Austin and Chicago continue to pull top talent from every corner of the country. Tech companies are hiring leaner teams with higher expectations. That means the leaders who know how to position themselves will be the ones who get hired. The ones who wait for recognition will get passed over.

Landing the leadership role is no longer optional for career growth. It is the difference between margin and stress, breathing room and financial pressure, options and obligations.

The 4 Step Roadmap to Land the Leadership Role

These steps come straight from the process my private clients use to go from frustrated and overlooked to hired and well paid.

 What it is

This is the inside look at how hiring decisions are made and the exact process that helps you land the leadership role you are qualified for.

Why it works

Because hiring leaders do not always choose the most capable person. They choose the person who positions themselves with confidence, clarity, and compatibility. My clients use this process to make jump changes in pay from 90k to 130k or 130k to 200k, and for many, 200k to over 350k.

How to apply it

Step 1. Show Your Value

Use leadership stories that prove you can elevate the team and make the decision maker’s life easier.

Checklist:

Pick 6 stories that show measurable results

Use the SHOW method to structure each story

Practice out loud until you sound like the leader who already belongs in the room

Step 2. Refresh Resume and LinkedIn in One Hour

Resume tweaking purgatory is where careers go to stall. Give yourself one hour total and move on.

Checklist:

One clean modern resume

One LinkedIn headline aligned to the role

Done. Apply. Do not wait to feel ready.

Step 3. Build Strategic Relationships

Most people skip this part and stay stuck for years. Your next role comes through people, not portals.

Checklist:

Identify your five relationship types

Reach out weekly

Become known as the leader people want in the room

Step 4. Create Your Leadership Brand in Three Words

Your brand pulls opportunity toward you. It also tells leaders what you are known for without you saying a word.

Checklist:

Pick three words that reflect your next level identity

Align your examples and stories to that brand

Use the same brand language across your resume, interviews, and networking

Who Benefits?

Mid level managers wanting their first senior role

Senior leaders ready for a jump in pay and scope

Working parents in Austin who need margin, not more hours

High performing women who want the salary and lifestyle they deserve

Where does this exist?

This step by step process exists inside my brand new course, Land the Leadership Role, launching the week of Black Friday. It includes story building templates, a one hour resume and LinkedIn method, executive networking guidance, and mindset tools to help you navigate doubt and pressure with calm power. Join the wailist to be the first to know when it drops: https://shaylaking.kit.com/waitlist

Listen to the 5% Club for Leaders Podcast

Common Questions:

How long does it take to land the leadership role?

Most clients land their role within 8 to 12 weeks when they follow this process consistently.

Do I need to apply to hundreds of jobs?

No. You need the right strategy, the right relationships, and the right positioning. This is not a volume game.

What if I don’t feel confident?

Confidence comes from clarity, preparation, and identity work. The mindset modules in the course walk you through all of this.

Is this course only for Austin leaders?

No. It works anywhere, but Austin leaders especially benefit because of how competitive our market is.

What salary jumps are realistic?

Clients have moved from 90k to 130k, 130k to 200k, and many into multi six figure leadership roles.

30 Day Action Plan

Week 1: Build your leadership story vault

Week 2: Complete the one hour resume and one hour LinkedIn process

Week 3: Identify your five relationship types and start outreach

Week 4: Pick your three word leadership brand and start applying

This plan alone positions you to land the leadership role faster than anything you have tried before.

If you want to land the leadership role in 2026, your preparation starts today.

Join the waitlist for Land the Leadership Role at shaylaking.com to get first access, the lowest price, and exclusive Black Friday bonuses.

About The Author

Shayla King is a former C suite executive, global M and A leader, and certified performance and leadership coach based in Austin, Texas. She helps corporate leaders increase performance and happiness while landing six figure and multi six figure roles without burnout.

About Evolve Career Coaching

Evolve Career Coaching helps leaders advance their careers with executive coaching, strategic training programs, and proven frameworks used by some of the top performers in corporate America.