Ladder vs. Lateral Career Paths: 3-2-1, GO!

Two questions that I like to ask people when they are planning their next road trips is:

1.    Are you planning to take the direct route and see farm fields on the way? or

2.    Are you going to take the scenic route and enjoy the view and perhaps learn a few things?

So you may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with career development and what does “career development” actually mean? Well, many people in today’s ultra-competitive society believe that career development is all about advancement and that the only way to get promoted is to “climb up the corporate ladder.” This common definition usually follows a specific direction or in this case, a “direct route.” For example, the picture on the right illustrates an example of someone who may follow a “corporate ladder” career path and stay within a specific business unit (blue) their whole entire career. However, although this may be the most typical career path, this may not be the most beneficial for you in the long-run.

The reason is because in today’s fast-paced and changing workplace, many companies are moving away from the traditional definition of career development (i.e. climbing up the corporate ladder). Instead, it is about a series of climbs and lateral moves that expand both depth and breadth of knowledge and experience (i.e. the scenic route). In fact, as the pandemic continues, this is a recurring theme and is something that many employers are emphasizing in their companies today.

The pictures below show you what career development may look like today. The first picture shows the definitions of lateral and vertical career movement. In addition to this, the picture below it illustrates examples of lateral and upward job movements within a company.  

Career Lattice Definition

Career Lattice Example

  
In the end, here are some things to consider when thinking about the benefits of lateral movement. 
 Developing in this way can:

·         Enhance your understanding of your future employer’s business: By moving laterally into different business units, you will be able to gain a better overall understanding of your companies different functions.

·         Allow you more potential to grow: By understanding the whole business, you will be able to gain different perspectives and ideas when you are working on critical projects that can affect the company as a “whole.”

·         Expand your career options:  By moving into different business units in your company you will be able to learn new skills, establish your network, and enhance/develop your reputation as a thought leader across the company. This can eventually help you obtain a high-level leadership role in the company or another company of similar structure. 

In conclusion, remember that career development isn’t going to be a one way street or a direct route. There may be multiple turns, hang pins, and u-turns that you may have to take in order to get to your final destination. However, in the end, you will be able to see and learn new things on the way!