Most women try to earn promotions by working harder. Outcomes don't track effort the way the meritocracy myth implies. Promotions reflect visibility, strategic positioning, and sponsorship more than effort. Working harder without these typically produces burnout, not advancement.
What promotions actually require
Visible work on strategic projects that matter to leadership. Documented track record of impact. Active sponsorship from senior figures. Stated interest in advancement (women often assume managers know; they don't). Calibration in promotion discussions (managers advocate for you actively).
What working harder does instead
Burnout. Resentment when others get promoted. Identification as 'reliable execution' rather than 'leadership potential'. Becoming hard to promote because losing you operationally would hurt.
If you've been working harder without advancement, the fix isn't more effort. It's repositioning: which projects, which visibility, which sponsorship, which conversations with your manager about your trajectory.