Brownian motion

Dear Bob …

I was happy to read your advice about two different ways to view career development – especially the idea that one’s career can be seen as a series of assignments.  I realized that that is the tack I’ve been taking, but that I’ve felt vaguely uneasy at times because on paper I’ve gotten off the traditional ladder up through management.  So, I was especially intrigued by your statement, “In the end, this is a superior way to gain entry to the top ranks of a company.”  Can you tell me what you based this on?  Just your own observations, or is there something else behind it?

I’ve often described my career as a spiral, where I’m circling in on the things I like to do best.  Thanks for offering another way for me to view my “career path.”

– Fallen off the ladder

Dear Fallen …

Just my opinion, of course, but I’ve found a career “random walk” can sometimes be superior to a path. Many companies … the wise ones at least … look for judgment, business acumen and versatility in their managers and executives. The best way to gain those traits is a broad range of experiences in a variety of business settings. Just climbing a ladder often precludes the kind of exposure that lets an executive figure out the hidden connections within a company that make the difference between success and failure.

I don’t know that it’s the best or fastest route to career advancement, but I’m quite sure the random walk is more fun.

One other point – this isn’t just advice for career-minded professionals. Put yourself on the other side of the discussion and it’s at least as valuable an idea. If you structure your organization to facilitate the movement of staff from one assignment to another instead of keeping people in fixed roles (and encourage leaders to cooperate to make this happen) you’ll end up with a more flexible, adaptable, and cross-trained staff.

– Bob

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