We have always been trained to start at the bottom of everything and work our way to the top since childhood. But do we have to follow that straight line? In this day and age, it is understood that a person should not be limited to that kind of one-dimensional pathway to professional growth.
Life has never been a straight road. Many paths can lead you to your destination. It’s a relief that this thought process is much more accepted today than ever before. Professionals are taking sideways freely to move up the professional career lattice instead of following that same old path that our ancestors used to follow.
Traditional Career Ladder vs. Career Lattice
For centuries, professional organizations have been following the gold standard of a linear path for career development. Everyone began at the entry-level positions and slowly made their way up, gaining more responsibility with each step. This model worked very well in the past; however, the business market has changed drastically over the last couple of years. Employees need more flexibility today, and the business market itself needs people who are more adaptable to evolving technology and business strategies. Therefore, skills are outpacing degrees in the job market.
The career ladder can also be very restrictive for people who want to try different aspects of the industry. It only lets you climb one rung, which is not desirable to the younger generation in particular.
In the present business market, the career lattice is the new standard. Its foundation is different from the career ladder approach since it promotes flexibility for employees to jump around freely and chase their growth by gaining new skills as well as experiences. This reiterates the need for ongoing learning and development of competencies to enable professionals to be more adaptable in the competitive business industry. In essence, this model encourages lifelong upskilling and thus empowers workers to own their career paths.
Why Ongoing Skill Development is Important for Career Growth
The business market has grown very competitive, and if professionals are not adaptable to the latest technologies and strategies, they’re losing their credibility. A publication by Cornerstone OnDemand signifies the importance of continuous learning and skill development as a key driver to ensure that you are able to take advantage of new opportunities in your career.
With rapidly changing technologies and emerging hurdles in the professional industry, durability in the workforce requires more than those tags of degrees. You can only survive and prosper in your career when you build your credentials continuously to meet the demands of your profession.
Professional Growth Strategies for Continuous Upskilling
Continuous development and improvement of skills revolve around taking with intention and purpose as opposed to taking random courses. In today’s marketplace, professionals are using tons of strategies to stay competitive and flexible as the market demands change.
Accreditation and Specialization
Career lattice requires a good demonstration of expertise in a particular area, thus increasing your credibility. Getting certifications and further accreditation helps you climb the career ladder faster. For example, a large number of nurses in the US enroll in the Rockhurst University online PMHNP program to adapt to the evolving mental health care needs and advance their careers. Gaining further certifications not only makes professionals more competitive but also opens doors to higher-paying roles and more career advancement opportunities.
Targeted Learning
Targeted learning should be a focal point for professional growth. The World Economic Forum states that more than half of the global workforce will need major learning transformations in the course of the next five years in response to automation and technological change, or their skills will become outdated. In the paradigm of changing business environments, a staff member who continuously undergoes learning in their career is more equipped to tackle incoming challenges.
Mentorship
Engaging in a mentorship relationship also helps in professional development. Mentorship is a great experience for both mentees and mentors themselves.
As a mentor, you get a chance to share your knowledge, polish your leadership skills, and grow by learning through the mentoring process. As you teach others, you get to know things from new perspectives, and it becomes a continuous learning cycle.
For mentees, it is important to have a mentor for career development. A mentor can help you gain new skills and ways to handle challenges.
Networking and Peer Learning
Professional networking and collaborating with other colleagues also open doors to many opportunities for professional growth. You can connect with others in your industry via events, workshops, virtual communities, or even social groups. Such environments help you stay nimble, broaden your scope of expertise, and effectively implement your theory into practice to stay competitive. Having a professional network now not only helps you gain valuable insights but also becomes a source for more growth opportunities that you might have missed on your own.
The business industry is changing at an alarming speed, and therefore conventional career ladder is no longer an effective way for career growth. Professionals require more skill sets to gain a competitive edge, and the career lattice model supports it by providing more flexibility and alternative ways for career development, which is more likely to yield job satisfaction, creativity, career longevity, and overall career success.