Think of your career like a tree.
Traditional career advice focuses on growing taller – promotions, fancier titles, the corner office.
But what if instead, you grew stronger branches?
That’s horizontal growth.
It’s about becoming more skilled, versatile, and valuable at your current level. This approach is essential in today’s job market, where 42% of workers globally considered leaving their jobs in the last year.
Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned professional, horizontal growth unlocks new possibilities.
Defining Horizontal Growth
Horizontal growth means expanding your knowledge, skills, and responsibilities within your current role or at a similar level within your organization. It’s about progress, not just promotion.
Here’s what sets it apart:
- Focus on Skills: Deepening expertise in your field, or strategically learning cross-functional skills.
- Value, Not Title: Your increased skills make you more of an asset, even if your job title doesn’t change (at first!).
- Flexibility: Horizontal growth doesn’t mean you’ll never move into management, it gives you more options long-term.
The Benefits of Horizontal Growth
- Increased Value, Increased Salary: Companies are willing to pay for specialized skills. A LinkedIn study found a 26% increase in salary potential for those with a mix of hard and soft skills.
- Career Resilience: The more skills you have, the less replaceable you become, boosting your job security.
- Boredom Buster: Consistent learning keeps you engaged, preventing career stagnation and burnout.
- Unexpected Opportunities: You may find yourself suited for leadership roles, niche projects, or even an entirely new career path your expanded skillset reveals.
How to Start Your Horizontal Growth Journey
Knowing horizontal growth is smart isn’t the same as doing it. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started:
- Skills Audit: Honest Self-Assessment
- Strengths: What are you known for at work? What do you find comes naturally?
- Interests: Where does your curiosity lead you, even outside of your current job?
- Goals: Be specific. Is it higher pay, a less stressful role, a more creative position? Your goals shape the skills you prioritize.
- Identify Learning Paths
- Formal Courses: Online platforms (Coursera, Udemy, etc.) offer targeted skill development, as do university extension programs.
- Mentorship: Can a more experienced colleague be a guide? Your company may even have formal mentorship programs.
- “On-the-Job” Learning: Can you take on new responsibilities, lead a project, or shadow someone in a different department?
- Micro-Moves Matter
- Consistency beats intensity. Block 30 minutes a few days a week for learning,
- Pomodoro Technique: Focused work bursts with short breaks can boost productivity.
- Leverage “dead time”: Podcasts on your commute, articles while waiting in line… those minutes add up.
Overcoming Obstacles to Horizontal Growth
Changing how you think about your career can be exciting, but also a bit scary.
Let’s address the most common roadblocks.
“Too Busy” Syndrome. It’s a valid concern! Here’s how to find time:
- Identify 15-30 minutes of “wasted time” (mindless scrolling, etc.).
- Listen to an industry podcast while doing chores, turn routine reports into a chance to practice new skills.
- If your learning benefits the company, perhaps they’ll allow for some development time on the clock.
Uncertain ROI. The results of horizontal growth may not be as immediate as a promotion. Here’s how to address it:
- Document new skills, projects you contribute to – this builds your case for a raise, even without a title change.
- If your company does performance reviews, frame your learning in terms of how it’s helped you achieve those goals.
- Proactively ask your manager how your expanded skills are impacting your work.
Fear of the Unknown. Change brings uncertainty, here’s how to reframe that feeling:
- Every skill you learn is an asset, even if it doesn’t lead in the direction you initially expected.
- Celebrate each completed course, or a successfully implemented new skill. This builds confidence.
- Connecting with others pursuing horizontal growth reminds you you’re not alone.
FAQs About Horizontal Growth
Q: Isn’t it risky to NOT focus on getting promoted?
A: It can be, if your only goal is the traditional climb. But horizontal growth actually increases your options. Strong skills make you promotable if that’s what you decide, AND they open other paths – a lateral move into a company area better suited to you, entrepreneurship, etc.
Q: Does my company have to be a certain size for this to work?
A: Any size company can benefit from employees with broader skillsets. In smaller companies, you might wear many hats by necessity, making horizontal growth a way to gain recognized expertise in a specific area for future opportunities.
Q: I’m in a very traditional industry, is this even possible for me?
A: It may take more creativity, but yes! Think about tightly regulated industries like healthcare or finance – what adjacent skills are growing in demand with technological change? Staying ahead of the curve is how you stand out, no matter your field.
Q: What if I try this and don’t see results? A: Give it time! Horizontal growth, like most worthwhile things, requires sustained effort. If after a year of consistent skill-building, you’re truly hitting a wall, that’s when it’s time for a frank conversation with your manager, or exploring outside options.
Horizontal growth is about designing the career you truly want. It takes initiative, a willingness to learn, and sometimes, a little courage to step outside the prescribed path.
But the payoff – a fulfilling, resilient, and ever-evolving career journey – is more than worth it.