When most people think of career advancement, they imagine some kind of physical ladder, illustrating a straight upward path to the sky! However, the reality of career progression is often more complex and nuanced. I have long advocated that the image we should conjure is more like that of a jungle gym—you can move up, down or sideways. Depending on the situation and what you’re looking for, a move in any direction can be a strategic form of advancement that puts you on a path to achieve your long-term career goals.

I know this from first-hand experience. I started my own career out of college in a management training program. While I loved the program itself, which involved lots of learning and travel, I quickly discovered that the actual “management” part was not for me. After four grueling years, I made a strategic “backwards” move from management to administration (which, incidentally, came with a pretty substantial pay cut).

That move was calculated and purposeful. It was hard in the short-term but designed to set me up for something better in the long-term. While I had no idea it would ultimately lead me where I am today, I knew it would put me on a path that was better matched to my interests, skills and desired lifestyle. It was scary to switch things up so dramatically, but today, I consider it a key decision that led to my current career success.

These kinds of non-traditional career moves can be seen as risky and confusing from the outside, but in hindsight they are often praised as the essential step that altered an individual’s career trajectory. As you consider advancement options in your own career, I encourage you to consider how and when a backward or lateral move might serve you.

The Value of Lateral Moves

A lateral move is where you transition to a different role at the same or a similar level either within or outside your current organization. While this might not seem like advancement in the traditional sense, lateral moves provide several key benefits.

• Diversify Your Skills: Moving sideways often allows you to build new skills and gain broader experience. This can make you a more well-rounded, versatile and adaptable professional. For example, an administrative assistant might transfer from the marketing department to the finance department to gain more specific experience in various aspects of reporting and budget management. Later, these transferrable skills could help position them for an even higher-level role in administration, finance, leadership or another field altogether.
• Gain Perspective: Lateral moves can help you better understand different facets of the business or organization, which can facilitate invaluable insight about your own areas of interest and talent. You may discover a new passion or potential career path you never even knew was an option.
• Expand Your Network: Lateral moves can also help expand one of your most important professional assets—your network. Joining different departments and teams allows you to interact with new colleagues and forge new relationships, which broadens your exposure and increases your visibility—key factors you will leverage for further career advancement in the future.

The Strategic Backward Step

Taking a step back in your career (by accepting a position with a lower title, less skill requirements and/or less pay) might sound counterintuitive, but there are situations where a backward move can serve as a strategic foundation for future advancement.

• Re-skilling and Up-skilling: If you’re interested in moving to a new field or industry, you may find that it requires a specific skill set you don’t yet possess. Accepting a lower-level role now can provide the necessary training and experience (along with critical relationships) to make a bigger career pivot in the future.
• Long-Term Growth: Sometimes, short-term sacrifices can support long-term gains. For example, you might choose to take a less demanding role while you focus your time and energy on pursuing higher education. Ultimately, you’re banking that the degree you earn will help position you for a higher-level role in the future.
• Lifestyle & Fulfillment: A backward step might also be a conscious choice to achieve a better work-life balance, pursue personal goals, or design a more desirable lifestyle for yourself and your family. There may be a variety of reasons to consider a step back (including health concerns and family obligations), and it doesn’t have to be permanent. In my experience, this kind of move often leads to greater job satisfaction and personal happiness, which can enhance career performance in the long run. Often a step back creates the momentum for a big leap forward at some point down the road.

Redefining Career Success

Recognize that career success is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Traditional notions of success—such as titles and salary—are evolving. Many professionals now prioritize flexibility, work-life balance, job satisfaction, and personal development over the linear pursuit of promotions.

Career advancement isn’t always a straightforward climb. Embracing lateral and backward moves can often lead to more meaningful, sustainable progress. Whether it’s building new skills, expanding your network, or aligning your career with your personal values and lifestyle, consider that any step in any direction can be an important part of your unique career journey.

The most important direction in your career isn’t necessarily “up”—it’s forward, on your own terms.