Let’s Talk About The Club (And Why You’re Not In It Yet)

Caroline Esterson
Jun 16
2 min read

You’ve felt it, right?

That weird shift in energy when decisions are made in rooms you’re not in.
That sense that something happened somewhere, and suddenly you’re out of the loop.

This is our discussion in Episode 2 of Little Moves, Big Careers. And in this blog, we’re diving into “The Club” to bring it to life for you. When we say 'Club', we don't mean the kind with velvet ropes and DJs. We mean the kind that shapes who gets seen, heard, promoted, and protected.

What Is The Club?

It’s the invisible network inside every organisation.

The conversation outside the meeting.

The invite-only group WhatsApps.

The unspoken alliances.

The familiarity that breeds opportunity.

And no, it’s not always malicious. But it is real. And unless you can spot it, you’ll keep getting blindsided by it.

“They say ‘you’re not quite ready.’ What they mean is, ‘You’re not familiar enough. Not trusted enough. Not in the room enough.’” — from Episode 2

Why This Episode Hits Different

This one’s juicy. We:

We unravel the narrative of meritocracy and dig into the messy, human factors that shape careers and impact psychological safety
Talk about why the club still exists - you might just be surprised!
Teach you how to spot it, and get strategically adjacent without selling your soul

It’s all about smart positioning.

Big Idea: Access Changes Everything

Being talented isn’t enough.

Access = trust.

Trust = opportunity.

Opportunity = influence.

If you’re constantly overlooked despite your competence, it’s likely a combination of visibility and access issues.

So what do you do?

Learn who holds the informal power - start paying attention and build your influence map
Get proximate. Join the Slack channel, the working group, and the hallway chat.
Be useful in strategic spaces. That’s how you earn a seat, not just a task.

Listener Favourite Segment: "Club Code or Corporate Noise"

Not everything’s a secret handshake; some things are just… badly run.

This cheeky segment helps you decode the difference, because if it’s a Club move, you’ll need strategy. But if it’s just a pants process? You can stop blaming yourself and start fixing the system.

It's energy-saving, rage-reducing and will help you notice things differently and get more resourceful.