Let me ask you a simple question (and no, it doesn’t involve chocolate or coffee, people).
Given the opportunity to reach your ultimate career destination, the one that was really meant for you, vs. following the path most traveled, which would you pick?
The exhausting, hamster-wheel-like, depressing, albeit more vertical, hustle and bustle of traditional corporate ladder climbing? Or the not so straight, not so vertical, path through career experimentation that may take you through professional back roads but ultimately gets you where you were always supposed to be? Or you could just win the Powerball, but since you didn’t, please keep reading…
You may not know this about me, but I have a terrible sense of orientation. I mean, it took me two months to get home straight from work after we moved into our new home without stopping by some totally random stranger’s house that kinda looked like mine. And forget about trying shortcuts and back roads…Then I would really end up in Timbuktu somewhere.
As a result, I’ve taken as a habit to experiment with destinations. And yes, it is the excuse I use to justify the Chronic Lateness Syndrome affecting me. But what it also has helped me with over time, is to let my orientation-challenged brain ease into the path it would end up being the most comfortable recognizing and following. Which would allow for free-flow experimentation (and more Chronic Lateness Syndrome), but ultimately would get me to where I’m going the best and most comfortable way I could muster.
Let’s face it.
This whole climbing the corporate ladder, making professional allies along the way while kicking potential career enemies on our way up, is no walk in the park either. Especially considering how slippery the ladder can be for women at work, and we all know how slippery and a fresh manicure do not go well together…
How much of this career ladder is subject to rules set in stone by institutions and people entirely different from the rest of us? And how much of it is dedicated to letting future leaders experiment and try their own hands at their definition of success?
How many times did you hear that you should get this certificate, go into this field, or stick with this career, when you knew deep inside it wasn’t for you? And how many times did you really question if it were the only way to move forward?
Instead of struggling to climb the proverbial corporate ladder, which for many women (and men) has turned into an exercise in self-afflicted disappointment, why not instead look into more of a multi-dimensional career lattice. One that would allow advancement through experimenting with new skills, a new network, or a new intellectual challenge.
While there is nothing wrong with vertical movements upward if you wish to remain with your current company and gain more responsibility, there are significant advantages to gaining more exposure, skills and an expanded network through career lattice moves.
Consider my girl Emma. We started in Big Accounting together, yet Emma was always more passionate about marketing. She had some contacts in the Marketing department, and decided to take a lower-level marketing position. Her move was considered like a step-down by most. Yet after only 6 months in the role, she showed such impressive leadership skills, that she made up for her move by gaining broader exposure and greater recognition. She is now the VP of Marketing in her division.
Like Emma, you may want to consider getting off that “slippery” career ladder before you fall off entirely, and instead hop onto more of a career lattice, especially if:
- You know that you don’t want to hit the ceiling in your profession. In many field, you can only go so high. And that is especially true of highly specialized areas. Why not start networking and looking around for opportunities to combine your current knowledge with other professional interests you may have?
- You want a role that promotes better work-life integration. If you know your current role is only going to evolve into work that will leave you less time to have a life outside of work, then maybe slipping into a lateral role is the answer.
- You’re interested in leadership, not subject-matter expertise. You like your job, but you’re more interested in becoming a well-rounder leader who knows about the entire company/industry. Start setting yourself for lateral, lattice-style moves that allow you to learn as much as possible while honing your current skills.
What do you think? Are you more in favor of the career ladder or the career lattice?
Which ones of the three reasons above would push you towards more of a lattice-style career?
Chime in in the comments.
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
