Previously I provided an insight about the transition from climbing the corporate ladder to climbing the corporate lattice. I received positive reactions to the earlier article. People were intrigued that by going sideways, they would be advancing their career. They asked how they should go about changing their job and make a career pivot without leaving their company.
The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.” — Ayn Rand
The essence of advancing your career is building your talent stack — knowledge, skills, accomplishments, wisdom and behavioural traits. Consider a career pivot to learn more skills and acquire knowledge. With a lateral move, you change roles within the same company. You will gain new experience a new work environment. Moreover, you continue to build your tenure, credibility and network in the company.
Many companies are evolving to lattice organizations to gain increased flexibility. This orientation provides you with increased opportunities for lateral moves. Lucky people walk around with their eyes wide open. These opportunities are often not as visible as traditional promotions. They may be for short duration or be a secondment.
In the 1990s I was the CEO of Scarborough Public Utilities, a $400 million water and electric utility. Interestingly, we were operating as a lattice organization without knowing it! We worked closely with the Utility Workers of Canada to move the collective agreement from the senior qualified person to the best qualified. In the final analysis, it was our mutual interest in satisfying the employees' need to learn and grow that created these breakthrough results.
We took advantage of temporary opportunities to give employees new experiences. It worked. In 1998, when Toronto amalgamated, more than one-quarter of our workforce was doing lateral roles. Notably, our services were the lowest cost and most reliable of any in the region.
Time for A Change
Staying in a bad job for too long can be very harmful to your career. If you’ve tried everything you can think of to make things better and haven’t seen any significant changes, it may be time to move on.” - Dr. Travis Bradberry
How to know when it is time to seek a better job? A decision to leave a job can be a gut-wrenching experience. You need to know that you are making the right choice. You will want to land a better job or a career pivot. Everyone should have a personal development plan, where you consider your passions and your talent stack.
What should you be working on to enhance your career journey? What's next?
A lateral move is a viable option for you to consider. It may be the ideal solution. Also, you will learn about a different part of the company. It enables other people in the company to get to know you. You can contribute in other ways. You will help expand the network of your new teammates.
An expanded network enhances your career prospects within your organization. Finally, if you want to build your talent stack and try a different functional area, a lateral move is a relatively easy pivot.
Steps for Successful Career Pivot
Manage your lateral moves carefully. You want everyone to feel that your career pivot is in the best interest of the company that you make a move.
Here are the steps you should take:
Understand your company
Before you figure out where you might move, learn what your company has to offer. Find out if it encourages lateral movements. Familiarize yourself with all the departments and different locations where your company has offices. Perhaps relocation is a possibility for you. Even doing the same job poring to a new manager is a learning experience. Browse the career page of your company website. Review job postings.
Many companies regularly distribute internal newsletters to keep staff well informed. Few read them. You need to understand the office newsletters, press releases and other announcements. Moreover, speak with the people involved to learn more and expand your network. Your effort to follow your company’s direction shows that you are engaged with your organization. It illustrates that you are keen to learn and grow. It will not go unnoticed.
Review the latest strategy, priorities and initiatives. Ask the investor relations and communications departments where you can find the latest news about what the company. Ideally, your next move coincides with a growth area.
Look for opportunities where you can meet with people in different departments or offices. Volunteering for internal committees, events or sports teams is an excellent way to meet people outside your current area. It also shows management that you are engaged. This is critical as fewer than one in five of your colleagues are engaged.
Understand the recruiting process
Before expressing your interest in any role, you need to know if your company if it has any specific process regarding lateral moves. You always want to be going to something rather than leaving your current situation. Your manager may see leaving as you not be loyal to them. Moves need to be in the best interest of the company.
Like we had at Scarborough PUC, some companies have a recruiting process for lateral moves and internal promotions. Ideally, you would provide a heads-up to your manager during performance reviews that you are interested in growth opportunities within the company. Indicate that you are open to lateral moves.
Seek your manager’s help
Being first to ask for help in a friendship takes courage and humility.” ― Afton Rorvik
You need to factor in your manager’s reaction to your career pivot. If they are supportive, it would be great to have his or her help in making introductions for you. You can learn a lot if they are willing to share insights into other areas and roles. They will have a different network than you.
If your boss is not likely to be supportive, plan to get them to see the value to them to support lateral moves. Share my article that organizations are moving to lattice career paths. Set up a time to ask them what they think. If they are not open, you need to plan your research and networking (inside and outside the organization) so that he or she does not get wind that you are looking around. Most people leave because of their supervisor. If they are not interested in your growth, it is a good indicator that it is time to move on.
Ultimately, you need to account for whether your manager will help or not. Even worse, they may work to prevent you from leaving.
Job-search ready
Once you have researched your company and identified possible next moves, you want to make yourself an attractive candidate. One of the benefits of a lateral movement is that it is not a full-blown job search. You probably will not need a resume. However, update your resume it will be helpful as you still want your best to shine through. Also, people likely do not know you as well as you think they will.
Furthermore, your manager’s recommendation or another review of your performance may come into play. Like an external job search, get all your material together and be prepared to interview. Know what the new area does. Be job-search prepared for a lateral move.
Launch your search
Once you are job-search ready, prepare to meet with other departments or locations. You have your updated resume and performance review to share. Find a way to get in front of the manager for the role you are targeting. Reach out to the hiring manager. Additionally, follow the steps in your company’s internal recruiting process follow these steps too.
If your supervisor is supportive of your career pivot and knows the manager, a direct recommendation is compelling. Also, having a colleague or mentor refer you will also be helpful.
Smooth Transition
If you focus on the results, you will never change. If you focus on the change, you will get results.” — Jack Dixon
Some organizations are very informal with lateral transfers. Ask HR contact to confirm if you should expect a new offer letter or need any extra paperwork, etc.
Moreover, make sure you work with your former manager to transition smoothly. You will need to coordinate with your former and your new bosses on the timeline. Try to enough time to delegate your old work and train your replacement. If that is not possible, let him or her know that you are a call away should they need help with their transition.
Confirm with your new supervisor what constraints and upcoming deadlines he or she has. You want to make a move in a timely fashion that serves their needs. Understanding why specific timing is desirable, you can better negotiate your departure. Once you have mastered your new role, keep it in mind that that lateral movement is an ongoing option. Do not complacent in the new job that you forget to continue to manage your career going forward. Your career journal may include future lateral moves.
Dream Job — The Bottom Line
We want to find that is enjoyable and meaningful, but what does that mean?
Some see it discovering their passion through a flash of insight. Others think that the critical elements of their dream job are that it be easy and highly paid. There is not much evidence for those views in decades of research into the causes of a satisfying life and career.
Here are six essential ingredients of a dream job:
- Work that is engaging —you enter a state of flow (freedom, variety, clear tasks, feedback)
- Work you’re good at — your behavioural DNA can be used to predict if you are likely to be a high performer in a given role
- Work that helps others — having meaning makes thing worthwhile and is rewarding
- Work with supportive colleagues — good relationships are such an essential part of having a fulfilling life
- An absence of things that make work unpleasant — negative consequences (i.e. a long commute, long hours, unfair pay, lack of job security) can be enough to outweigh many other positive factors
- A job that fits with the rest of your life — your sense of meaning may come through philanthropy or volunteering, or building great relationships outside of work
In summary, career satisfaction occurs when you know that your talent stack is being used to do something worthwhile in the right environment.
To successful make a career pivot, it needs to fit with your personal development plan. Your talent stack is your career capital — invest wisely and leverage it. Your journey needs to be all about find ing best fit for you.
Challenge — What's Right For You?
Solution = Leverage Your Talent Stack + Build Your Career Capital
Identify your unique behavioral strengths, build your career capital and leverage your unique talent stack for lifetime success.
- Grow your leadership potential by targeting your critical developmental needs
- Determine your crucial career success factors, allowing for more focused efforts
- Discover your best and most successful career direction
- Find out about your strengths and interests in different career areas
Knowing yourself is the first step to being happy. Moreover, staying happy is an ongoing process of regrounding your long-term goals with your current objectives. When those align, you’re on the path to a job you can adore. Know when to find a better job as your best option may be to fall in love with your job (again) We also offer a personal development plan to help you achieve career success and satisfaction.