Unlocking Career Growth: The Power of Lattice Over Ladder Mobility

Rethinking Career Advancement in a Flat Organizational World

With companies adopting flatter structures and the job market tightening, traditional upward mobility through promotions is becoming a rarity. Brett Coakley, a career consultant, highlights the challenge of seeing a linear career path in today's matrix organizations. The solution? Embracing the career lattice model for a more flexible and diverse approach to professional growth.

What is a Career Lattice?

A career lattice promotes movement in multiple directions—lateral, diagonal, vertical, or even downward—to acquire new skills and experiences. Strategic moves within this framework can accelerate career progression beyond waiting for promotions.

Exploring Types of Career Mobility

Vertical Mobility

Traditionally achieved through promotions, vertical moves come with bigger titles and pay raises. However, staying on the same track can lead to a learning plateau or burnout due to lack of skill diversification.

Lateral Mobility

Moving across departments or fields without a significant change in responsibility or pay. Lateral moves broaden your experience and enhance competitiveness in a skills-based economy. Studies show they can lead to higher promotions and salary increases.

Diagonal Mobility

Combining vertical and horizontal movement, diagonal mobility involves taking on a higher-level role in a different area. For example, a project engineer moving to a project manager role in R&D.

Downward Mobility

Though counterintuitive, stepping into a less senior role can be strategic for career pivots or skill acquisition, especially after a period of unemployment.

Hybrid Mobility

The most successful career paths today involve a mix of mobility types. This could include stretch assignments, cross-training, side hustles, or volunteer work, focusing on building value over chasing titles.

Weaving Your Career Lattice

• Perform a skill gap analysis to identify needed skills for future roles.
• Use tools to plot strategic moves, embracing the flexibility of a career lattice.
• Connect with a career ally or sponsor outside your chain of command for broader perspectives and advocacy.

Professional development is no longer just about climbing the ladder—it's about building a lattice that supports diverse and strategic career moves.