Hello
This weeks email is a must read for anyone who is wondering where to go next in their career, when the next step isn't clear.
It's a question that I get asked ALL the time and comes up so often in coaching conversations. It also seems to become increasingly more challenging as you progress in your career.
So let me set the scene....
You’ve done the work. You’ve proven yourself. And you’re ready for what’s next. But what if “next” isn’t clearly marked?
Maybe the next-level role is already occupied - by someone who’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Or perhaps there’s no formal path mapped out for someone with your unique skill set.
And while others might start looking externally, you’re not ready to leave. You still believe in your company’s mission. You’re invested in your team. You want to grow here.
So, what now?
Here’s the good news: Some of the most meaningful and strategic career moves happen not when a door opens, but when you create your own.
Embracing the Squiggly Career Path
For years, careers were seen as ladders - linear, upward, predictable. But today, most careers are no longer ladders to climb and successful leaders are often choosing more squiggly paths, moving laterally, diagonally, or even backward before launching forward again. And whilst these paths may feel 'messy', they’re often rich in development and learning.
Growth isn't only about title or scope. It’s about increased capability, influence, visibility, and alignment with your long-term purpose.
Job Crafting - Redesigning Your Role From The Inside Out
If the position you want doesn’t exist yet, one option is to start reshaping the one you’re in.
Job crafting is the process of proactively adjusting your responsibilities, relationships, and mindset to better align with your strengths, passions, and goals. It turns your current role into a platform for next-level development.
Three Dimensions of Job Crafting:
1. Task Crafting - reconfigure what you do.
- Volunteer for projects outside your usual remit.
- Lead a cross-functional working group.
- Take ownership of a pain point in the business.
Example: If you're in operations but want to move toward strategy, propose leading the annual planning process or a strategic review.
2. Relational Crafting - redesign who you interact with.
- Build relationships across departments.
- Shadow leaders in other functions.
- Become a mentor or reverse mentor.
Example: If you aspire to executive leadership, build relationships with Finance, HR, and Product to deepen your cross-functional perspective.
3. Cognitive Crafting - reframe how you think about your work.
- See your role as an incubator for others’ growth.
- View yourself as a change agent within your domain.
- Connect daily work to long-term vision.
Example: Instead of seeing yourself as “just” a team manager, view yourself as a culture shaper or a talent developer.
Building a Linear Path in a Squiggly World
While your career may zigzag, you can still pursue a clear, strategic development plan.
Here’s how:
1. Define Your Leadership North Star - ask yourself:
- What kind of leader do I want to become?
- What types of problems do I want to be solving?
- What environments bring out my best?
Knowing your destination helps you identify whether you're lacking skills, exposure, or influence - and guides your next steps.
2. Map Your Skill Gaps - don’t wait for a job to teach you what’s missing.
- Conduct a self-audit or 360 review.
- Identify capabilities needed at the next level: financial fluency, change management, data storytelling, etc.
- Set your own development plan - online courses, internal projects, coaching. Don’t wait for the organisation you are working for to offer development, be self-driven and seek it both internally and externally.
Pro tip: Look at the LinkedIn profiles of leaders in roles you aspire to. What skills or experiences do they have that you don’t yet?
3. Request Stretch Assignments - strategic projects = growth + visibility.
- Partner with your manager to identify high-priority initiatives.
- Offer to lead a pilot, coordinate cross-team efforts, or analyse performance data.
- Say yes to messy, ambiguous problems - these are executive proving grounds.
Frame it as: “How can I free you up by owning this initiative end-to-end?”. Aim for the win:win.
4. Pursue Lateral Development Moves - sometimes, the best way to move up is to move sideways.
- Rotations across departments.
- Internal secondments or special projects.
- Temporary leadership of a new or restructuring team.
These broaden your lens, deepen your business acumen, and make you indispensable when new roles do open up.
Have the Right Career Conversations
Your manager may not know you're seeking more unless you tell them. Don’t wait for the next formal performance review.
Conversation Starters:
- “I want to stay and grow here, and I’m looking for ways to stretch. Can we explore opportunities beyond formal promotions?”
- “I’m curious how I can add value outside my current scope. Are there any strategic initiatives or projects you think I’d be a good fit for?”
- “What would you need to see from me over the next 6–12 months to be considered for broader responsibilities?”
Bring ideas. Bring energy. Bring commitment.
Legacy > Ladder
Careers are not just built - they’re cultivated.
Your next big leap might not be a job change, but a shift in how you lead, who you influence, and what you build. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is grow deeper, not just taller.
Remember: Leaders who shape culture, mentor others, and take initiative become irreplaceable - even if their title stays the same for a while.
In my opinion, stagnation is rarely about the job - it’s about the story we tell ourselves about it. By embracing squiggly paths, crafting your role, seeking skill-building moves, having proactive conversations and understanding and shaping your mindset, you can turn a seemingly blocked path into a launchpad.
The best leaders don’t wait to be promoted. They act like they already are - and the opportunities tend to follow.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Until next time...
Lisa
Lisa Reynolds - The Strengths Coach
Leadership Coach | Careers Expert | Positive Psychologist |
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