Is the Career Ladder Outdated? Exploring the Lattice Approach to Professional Growth

By WOI+ Editorial Team 

For decades, the career ladder has been the prevailing metaphor for professional success. It’s a concept that suggests a clear, upward trajectory: each step a promotion, each rung a move closer to the top. But in today’s dynamic work environment, does this linear progression still hold relevance? And does it serve the needs of a workforce that increasingly values flexibility and diverse experiences, particularly women?

The answer may lie in a different model: the career lattice.

The Career Ladder: A One-Way Climb

The career ladder is straightforward: you begin at the entry level and, with hard work and dedication, ascend through the ranks. This model thrives on predictability. Each step is a move upward, symbolizing advancement in title, responsibility, and often, compensation. Success is measured by how high one can climb, with the ultimate goal being a top-tier position, typically within the same organization.

However, this model assumes a uniform career path that doesn’t account for the varied experiences and aspirations of today’s workforce. It doesn’t easily accommodate those who take career breaks, seek lateral moves for skill development, or prioritize work-life balance over constant upward mobility. For many women, whose career paths might involve navigating these complexities, the ladder can feel restrictive.

The Career Lattice: A Flexible Framework

In contrast, the career lattice offers a more flexible and multidirectional approach to professional growth. Instead of moving solely upward, the lattice model allows for movement in various directions: upward, lateral, and even downward, depending on the individual’s goals and life circumstances.

What does a lattice look like? Imagine a grid or a web rather than a single vertical line. In this model, you can move across different roles and departments, take on projects that broaden your expertise, or even take a step back to acquire new skills or find better work-life balance. It’s about growing your career in breadth as well as depth, developing a rich array of experiences and skills that can be leveraged in various contexts.

How does the lattice work? The lattice model is built on the idea that career progression is not always linear. It values the accumulation of diverse experiences, whether that’s moving to a different role within the same company, taking on a new challenge in a different industry, or acquiring skills that don’t directly correlate with a promotion but add significant value. In a lattice, success is defined by the richness of your career portfolio, not just by how high you’ve climbed.

Practical Implications: A Better Fit for Modern Workplaces

For organizations, adopting the lattice model means encouraging and facilitating a variety of career moves. This could involve creating more opportunities for lateral transfers, cross-functional roles, or rotational programs that allow employees to gain a broad range of experiences. It also means recognizing the value of these diverse experiences in performance reviews, promotions, and compensation.

The lattice approach is particularly beneficial for women, who often seek or require more flexibility in their careers due to personal and family commitments. It allows women to continue progressing in their careers even if they need to take time off, shift focus, or explore new areas of interest. The lattice model offers a way to stay engaged, continue learning, and grow professionally without feeling constrained by the rigid structure of the ladder.

Redefining Success: Embracing the Lattice

For individual workers, especially women, the lattice represents an opportunity to redefine what success looks like. Instead of feeling pressured to climb higher and higher, the lattice encourages exploration, skill development, and personal fulfillment. It’s about creating a career path that is uniquely yours, reflecting your interests, values, and life circumstances.

Is the career ladder outdated? In many ways, yes — especially as we move towards a future that values flexibility, adaptability, and holistic growth. The career lattice offers a model that better reflects the complexities of modern careers and supports a diverse workforce. By embracing the lattice, we can create career paths that are not just about reaching the top, but about finding fulfillment in the journey.