Never Let Your Career Depend on One Person's Opinion

When your entire professional trajectory hinges on a single manager's perception, you are in a fragile position. Build relationships across your organization -- with peers, skip-level leaders, and people in other departments. Make your work visible beyond your immediate team. If one person holds all the power over your growth, a personality clash or a bad review can set you back years. Diversifying your internal network isn't politics; it's career insurance.