Two deserving candidates. One promotion. Navigate office politics, unconscious bias, and competing loyalties to make the right call.
Part of
Leadership Presence →
From winning over a team of skeptical veterans to making a promotion call with your values on the line — practice the four decisions that define who you are as a leader.
Skills you'll build
What happens in this story5 scenarios
Two resumes. Two track records. Both deserving. You need to evaluate them on merit, not on who makes you more comfortable — and the difference is harder to see than you think.
A senior colleague just cornered you to advocate for their favorite. The pressure is real, the politics are thick, and you can feel your objectivity slipping under the weight of influence.
You've made your pick — but have you checked your own blind spots? The bias you can't see is the one that makes the decision for you.
The data is in, the politics are navigated, the biases are checked. Now you have to choose — and own it. This is where leadership meets values, and there's no hiding behind process.
You have to tell one person they got the promotion and another they didn't. The second conversation is harder — and how you handle it will define you more than the promotion itself.
More stories in this course
View all →The First Meeting
Your first day leading a team of skeptical veterans. Earn respect without demanding it — through listening, decisive action, and authentic vulnerability.
4 scenarios →The Quiet Rebellion
Your best performer is undermining your decisions in side conversations. Address the conflict without losing your strongest contributor.
4 scenarios →The Crisis Call
A critical project is failing, the client is furious, and your team is burning out. Lead through chaos with clarity, empathy, and strategic thinking.
4 scenarios →The Promotion Dilemma
Two deserving candidates. One promotion. Navigate office politics, unconscious bias, and competing loyalties to make the right call.
Start free →5 scenarios · 30 min · No account required to try