Go Beyond the Corporate Ladder: Why Lateral Moves Can Take You Higher

When thinking about career growth, it’s easy to instinctively focus on upward mobility—climbing the corporate ladder through a series of promotions. Scrolling through LinkedIn, it seems as if my feed is constantly updating with “promotion” announcements that boast everyone else’s success. This traditional view of success often centers on the pursuit of higher titles, increased responsibilities, and the prestige that comes with moving up within an organization. However, this mindset can sometimes overlook the significant value that lateral career moves offer. 

Lateral moves, which involve shifting to a different role, team, or function at the same level, can provide a wealth of experiences and skills that are crucial for long-term career success. It’s not uncommon to see top executives in any industry who have built their careers not by following a straight upward trajectory, but by embracing diverse roles that broadened their expertise and prepared them for leadership. 

It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap and forget that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember that old tale of the turtle beating the rabbit? I’m here to tell you to consider easing your pace of climbing the corporate ranks and consider shifting your focus to career experiences that will position you for success in the long run.

This article explores 6 reasons why lateral career moves should be a key part of your professional growth strategy and how to balance them against the pursuit of promotions.

1) Broaden Your Skill Set

Taking on a lateral move allows you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in new challenges that require a different set of skills. Unlike promotions, which often build on your existing expertise, lateral moves push you to develop competencies in areas that may be unfamiliar to you. For example, moving from a marketing role to a product management position forces you to think from a different perspective, tackling challenges that require technical understanding, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic planning. This kind of shift not only diversifies your skill set but also enhances your ability to adapt to various situations, a quality that is highly valued in leadership roles.

By broadening your skill set through lateral moves, you become a more versatile and adaptable professional, equipped to handle a wider range of responsibilities. This diversity of experience can set you apart from peers who may have taken a more traditional, promotion-focused career path. In the long term, having a broad skill set makes you more attractive to employers, as you bring a well-rounded perspective to any role you take on. Moreover, this adaptability is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment, where the ability to pivot and respond to new challenges can be the difference between success and stagnation.

2) Increase Your Value Across the Organization

When you make a lateral move within your company, you have the opportunity to expand your network and increase your visibility across different departments. Each team and function within an organization operates with its own unique goals, challenges, and culture. By moving laterally, you gain firsthand experience with these dynamics, allowing you to understand the organization from multiple angles. This deepened understanding can make you a more valuable asset, as you are better equipped to collaborate with colleagues across the company and contribute to cross-functional initiatives.

Increasing your value across the organization also positions you as a key player in the company’s overall success. When you are known and respected by multiple teams, you build a network of allies and supporters who can advocate for you when new opportunities arise. Additionally, having a broader organizational perspective allows you to identify synergies between different departments, leading to more effective collaboration and innovation. This reputation as a cross-functional leader can pave the way for future promotions, as you are seen not just as an expert in your field, but as someone who understands and can drive the company’s broader strategic goals.

3) Enhance Problem-Solving and Innovation

Lateral moves often expose you to new challenges and ways of thinking, which can significantly enhance your problem-solving abilities. When you work in different teams or functions, you encounter a variety of problems that require innovative solutions. For instance, moving from an operations role to a customer experience position might expose you to new pain points that customers face, prompting you to think creatively about how to improve processes and deliver better outcomes. This cross-pollination of ideas is a powerful driver of innovation, as it allows you to bring fresh perspectives to problems that others might overlook.

As you enhance your problem-solving abilities through lateral moves, you also become more adept at driving innovation within the organization. This ability to think outside the box is often what distinguishes great leaders from good ones. By bringing together insights from different parts of the company, you can develop innovative strategies that address complex challenges and deliver tangible results. Over time, this reputation for innovative thinking can set you apart as a leader who not only solves problems but also anticipates and shapes the future direction of the company.

4) Build a More Resilient Career

A career built on a foundation of diverse experiences is inherently more resilient to changes in the industry or economy. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, industries can rise and fall, and specific roles can become obsolete almost overnight. By embracing lateral moves, you equip yourself with a broad range of skills and experiences that make you more adaptable to these changes. For instance, if you’ve worked in both sales and product development, you’re not only more versatile but also more likely to weather shifts in either field. This adaptability can be a critical factor in maintaining your career momentum during uncertain times.

Building a resilient career through lateral moves also gives you a competitive edge in the job market. Employers value candidates who can demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to learn, traits that are often developed through a diverse career path. Moreover, when you have a wide range of experiences to draw upon, you are better prepared to pivot into new roles or industries if your current field experiences a downturn. This resilience not only helps you navigate challenges but also positions you for long-term success, as you are better equipped to seize new opportunities that align with your evolving career goals.

5) Foster a Growth Mindset

Embracing lateral moves is a powerful way to cultivate a growth mindset, where the focus is on continuous learning and development rather than simply climbing the corporate ladder. When you prioritize gaining new experiences and skills over titles and status, you open yourself up to a world of opportunities that might not have been available otherwise. For example, moving from a leadership role in finance to a strategy position in a different industry might seem like a step sideways, but it could provide you with invaluable insights and skills that prepare you for even greater leadership opportunities in the future.

Fostering a growth mindset through lateral moves encourages you to view your career as a journey of personal and professional development. This mindset shift can lead to more fulfilling career progression, where success is measured not just by your job title but by the richness of your experiences and the depth of your learning. As you continue to grow and evolve, this approach helps you remain adaptable and open to new challenges, making you a more effective leader and a more satisfied professional. Ultimately, a growth mindset not only enhances your career prospects but also enriches your overall life experience.

6) Evaluate the Opportunity: Promotion vs. Lateral Move

When faced with the choice between a promotion and a lateral move, it’s important to carefully evaluate the long-term benefits of each option and how they align with your overall career goals. A promotion might offer immediate rewards, such as a higher title and increased salary, but it’s essential to consider whether it will provide the growth and development you need to reach your ultimate career objectives. On the other hand, a lateral move might not come with the same immediate benefits, but it could open doors to future opportunities that a promotion might not. For example, a lateral move to a new department might expose you to different aspects of the business, broadening your perspective and making you a stronger candidate for executive roles in the future.

Weighing the opportunity for skill development, network expansion, and personal satisfaction against the allure of a higher title or salary can be challenging, but it’s crucial for making informed career decisions. Sometimes, the best move for your long-term growth is not the most obvious one. By carefully considering the potential outcomes of both lateral moves and promotions, you can make choices that align with your broader career vision and set yourself up for sustained success.

Now let’s get to work!

While promotions offer a clear and direct path to career advancement, lateral moves can provide equally valuable opportunities for growth and development. These moves challenge you to step outside your comfort zone, allowing you to acquire new skills, gain fresh perspectives, and build a diverse set of experiences that contribute to a more well-rounded professional profile. By embracing the opportunities presented by lateral career moves—whether that means joining a new team, exploring a different function, or even transitioning to another industry—you can significantly increase your value within your organization. These varied experiences prepare you for the complexities of leadership roles, where a broad understanding of the business and the ability to collaborate across functions are essential for success. In essence, lateral moves can serve as the building blocks of a more versatile, resilient, and innovative career.

Balancing the pursuit of promotions with strategic lateral moves is key to maximizing your long-term career potential. It’s important to recognize that career growth is not always a linear journey; sometimes, the most rewarding opportunities come from moving sideways rather than straight up. By focusing on continuous learning and development, expanding your network, and remaining open to new challenges, you position yourself to take advantage of a wider array of career opportunities. This approach not only enhances your professional satisfaction but also equips you with the diverse toolkit needed to navigate the evolving demands of your industry. Ultimately, the most successful careers are often those built on a foundation of varied experiences, where each lateral move contributes to a richer and more fulfilling professional journey.