Accelerate Your Career #4: Think 'Outside the Box'

Advancing your career doesn’t always mean pursuing the next logical step upward. Sometimes, taking a lateral move to a similarly challenging role in another organization can lead to greater job satisfaction. Such steps often reveal skills and strengths you didn’t know you had. In the fourth part of our blog series, we explore how to identify the career step that’s right for you.

The traditional trajectory, especially in large organizations, can feel restrictive. As discussed earlier, focusing solely on upward mobility can lead to landing in a role that isn’t the best fit. Fortunately, there are often more options than you realize.

Coffee chats

A lateral move can often be the best step for career growth. You might also explore working for a completely different organization or even entering a new sector, which could open up an entirely new world for you. Consider having coffee with someone from a promising startup, where you’ll often encounter plenty of energy and enthusiasm. Or meet with someone already doing the work you aspire to do.

Another option is job swapping or job shadowing, where you spend a few days observing someone’s role. This is an excellent way to check if your expectations of a role or organization match reality. Internally, you can also ask to shadow someone within your company.

Stepping outside your comfort zone takes courage and a willingness to embrace unconventional ideas. Another approach is to ask someone who knows you well what kind of role they envision you thriving in for the future.

Dream job

How do you think outside the box? Start by imagining your dream job without any limitations. Gather as many ideas as possible, and don’t dismiss them for seeming impractical or unattainable. Instead, explore them. There are often more growth opportunities than you might think.

Life Long Development

At TIAS, we strongly believe in Life Long Development: a continuous journey of learning and growth, both personally and professionally. We see personal and professional development as a golden combination. Growing as a leader is only possible when you truly get to know yourself. That’s why our programs focus on leadership development and transformation.

For every stage of your career

At TIAS, you’ll find a program tailored to your ambitions, learning goals, and career stage at every phase of your professional journey. Our programs help you bring out the best in yourself and create impact for your organization and society. Would you like to discuss how we can support you or your organization? Please contact one of our Program Advisers.