Peaks and Valleys, Not a Ladder Career progression is not the steady staircase to the executive floor it once was. Rigid expectations of a linear, upward trajectory can blind you to diagonal opportunities.

To accelerate your career progression, you must view all three types of moves as potential stepping stones rather than detours.

and not necessarily an actual leveling up. In my career advancement equation, all movements––up, down, forward, backward, and lateral––can be positive.