Is Only a Sequential Career Path Effective?

One of the most deeply ingrained notions in our minds is that a sequential career path leads to success. This may be ideal for people who have everything well planned out with short-term and long-term goals in mind. For such people, their career path appears to be a smooth ladder, with the steps representing the required duties that must be carried out in order to reach the summit. Unfortunately, this is not true for every individual. Most of us are unlikely to have everything figured out and need to work out what a successful career path looks like for us. Hence, this Harvard Business Review video contends that sequential career paths do not guarantee success and that career paths are more akin to climbing cliffs than ladders.

The video begins by implying that career development does not always follow a linear progression for everyone. Due to the numerous alternatives available, it frequently resembles a rock climbing wall. According to the video, the conventional ladder comparison permits individuals to only move in two directions: upwards, implying progress, or downwards, implying loss. But, according to the video, there are several methods to navigate through opportunities of different kinds, divisions, and abilities inside the corporation. For some, the video suggests that success may not be restricted to a single aim in mind. Rather, individuals may define success as expanding their scope by stepping beyond their particular comfort zones. The video also implies that success is frequently associated with a promotion that results in a leadership role. However, some people may be quite content with taking a step back, lowering their burden, and regaining a work-life balance. As a result, the video proposes that for evaluating your career path, the rock climbing wall comparison is far more appropriate than the ladder one. In order to negotiate the rock climbing wall, the video proposes that we first identify our areas of strength and potential. This is because it enables you to establish a psychologically secure atmosphere for yourself in which you may comfortably fail as well. Finally, the video underlines that there are several approaches to defining success, each of which is unique to your own interests and may not be suitable for others. One of the finest ways to establish a good career path, as the video suggests, is to not limit it to just one or two criteria.

Whereas sequential career paths have long served as guiding charts for people navigating their professions, they do not necessarily ensure success and satisfaction. The preceding text demonstrates how a career path does not necessarily have to be linear and may be tailored to each individual’s preferences.