Should You Make a Lateral Career Move? How to Decide

< Back to all resources
Leadership and management
Career Development

Career advancement isn't always a straight climb up. MIT SMR columnist Brian Elliott reveals how strategic sideways moves can unlock unexpected professional growth, challenging traditional career progression models. Drawing from his experiences at Google and Slack, Elliott offers insights into transforming lateral steps into powerful career catalysts, emphasizing adaptability, continuous learning, and the importance of breaking traditional career ladder constraints.

  • Lateral Career Moves Benefits and Risks
  • Career Development: Jungle Gym vs Ladder
  • Impact of Changing Roles on Engagement and Burnout
  • Benefits of Internal Mobility for Organizations
  • Skill and Leadership Development
  • Impact of Mentorship and Sponsorship

Download this free asset!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Related content

The Rush to Return to the Office Is Stalling

Return to office
,
Leadership and management
,
Workplace
,
Article

Fear-Based CEOs Versus Trust-Based Leaders: Who Actually Wins?

Leadership and management
,
Culture at work
,
Technology Adoption
,
Generative AI
,
Video

Flexible Work Reality: Latest Data and Research September 2025

Flexibility at work
,
Return to office
,
Culture at work
,
Purpose-driven hybrid
,
Leadership and management
,
Download