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10 Tips For Successfully Making A Lateral Role Change At Work

Forbes Human Resources Council

There’s more to professional development than just moving up the ladder. Sometimes an employee might be interested in making the move into a different department or role. Making such a change could rekindle a professional’s lagging interest in their work, as well as allow them to gain valuable new skills and experience. Leadership may well see a boost in this team member’s productivity, and any business can benefit from team members who can wear multiple hats.

Even so, it’s not a decision to be made lightly, as it will come with some disruption to both career momentum and business operations. So how can someone make sure a lateral work move is right for them, and if it is, know where to start? Below, 10 members of Forbes Human Resources Council share valuable advice for professionals considering a role change.

1. Map out your long-term career goals.

Start by mapping out your long-term career goals to ensure there is alignment between this move and where you aspire to land. Being a student of the business is great, and lateral moves can equip you with a breadth of experience. Still, linking your move to a larger goal (and purpose) is key to gaining the most out of the move. - Lindsay Gainor, Kent Power

2. Thoroughly research the role and pursue any needed professional development.

Learn as much as possible about the business, including the new position or department that you are interested in, and speak up about your interest in making a lateral move. From your current role, try to contribute as much as possible to the team that you aspire to join by sharing insights, data and ideas. If needed, take any courses or certifications that will make you a qualified candidate. - Olga Sanchez, GFR Services

3. Communicate with HR and the leadership team.

Communicate, communicate, communicate your interest and your passion to your leader, your HR manager and the leader overseeing the function you are interested in transitioning to. Connect with the team you want to move to—go for lunch with them or offer to help with their projects. This way you begin to already feel like a part of the team, and when something opens up, you are their first choice. - Rohini Shankar, CIOX Health

4. Seek out opportunities to share your experience.

As in life, attitude determines the altitude in a career. Be curious, open to learning new things and sincere in your efforts. This will help you connect with new concepts and new colleagues. Your experience of another department also gives you an edge to connect cross-divisional ideas and people. Actively seek out opportunities to help through your generalist experiences. - Kumar Abhishek, S&P Global

5. Be ready to ‘get your hands dirty.’

Repurposing talent—especially those who are long-term, reliable employees—happens often. But sometimes people transition to other functions and expect to be at the same level they were in their old job, and it just doesn’t work that way. You have to understand that it is a step back, and you may have to “get your hands dirty” to acquire the skills to become successful in the new role. - Kristen Fowler, JMJ Phillip Executive Search


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6. Volunteer for stretch assignments.

Take the time to explore career lattices. These are lateral opportunities that help build adaptability and a better view of the organization. By volunteering for stretch assignments, you will be better positioned to approach a new role with the perspective you will need to succeed. - Cat Colella-Graham, Cheer Partners

7. Ask insider perspectives, then create a pros and cons list.

Evaluate the new position via a discussion with the immediate supervisor for it, along with a colleague on the same team. From there, write a pros and cons list to fully evaluate the decision and ensure you’re making the change for the right reason and that it will fulfill you. - Sarah Palmer, Hueman RPO

8. Try tackling some of the work with others in the role first.

Meet with people who perform that role, try to do some of the work and build rapport before requesting a move. Having people in that department clamoring for you to join them will make it much easier to convince leadership it is a good idea. This also de-risks things for the employee, because they can make sure they like the work and team beforehand. - Alex Pantich, Upshift

9. Connect with a mentor, a coach and an advocate.

The best tip I could offer an employee who is seeking to transition to a new position is to connect with a mentor, a coach and an advocate. The mentor will work with the employee to develop their job knowledge. The coach supports personal and professional development by helping the employee develop new skills, and the advocate connects the employee to the decision-makers. - Thalia Rodriguez, Providence Anesthesiology Associates

10. Imagine a rock climbing wall.

Start by imagining a rock-climbing wall. The trajectory and the degree of risk you are willing to take are yours to decide—there is no “one way” up. Seek out the handholds and footholds by networking, and find your footing by leveraging the skills you have and focusing on the ones you need to learn. At the end of the day, remember you are in a harness and there’s a safety net, but always follow your heart and gut. - Tonushree Mondal, Tonushree Mondal Consulting LLC

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