Don't want to progress at work

[worktired]

I have a fairly good job (well qualified, professional) and earn a decent wage.

But - I'm knackered. Perimenopausal, whole range of health issues that I manage through working slightly less than full time (5 hours less), plus young kids with additional needs.

Performance review time soon and we've been asked to identify growth areas to work on to develop our skills, perhaps move into supervision/management roles.

I don't want to! I want to do my usual day job and that's it as I feel like I have too many plates spinning at the moment outside work. Unfortunately this attitude can be seen as "not being a team player" and similar.

Has anyone else felt similar? How can I manage this?

I reached the level that I wanted to achieve in a previous organisation. I had no desire to take on a higher management role, so chose skills-based areas to focus on, and personal development courses. Communications. Negotiating skills. Stuff like that. Is that an option for you?

Thank you ! Yes it might be, I'll look into it

My husband is like this.

The next level up are used to pass bad news down by higher management and deal with the fallout. They get about £2k more a year on a 30k salary. My husband would prefer to work the overtime rather than have the hassle the managers receive.

I've resigned from a higher powered role because its too pressurised now with inability to recruit and the extra work from those who haven't been replaced falling on just a few shoulders.

I'm.sure many promotions are worth going for but certainly not all

The idea of moving on to a more senior role is not that you spend more hours at work, but that the hours you do spend shift in emphasis to supporting others, rather than "doing" things yourself.

You might find that if you progress, it's actually less stressful than delivering.

What if you say you want to gain skills that will make you even better and more efficient at your current role so you can continue to serve that need in the organisation better and better?

I've felt like that for the last 10-ish years - I'm not interested in a career or progression.
I just want a job that I enjoy, that I am able to do well and get paid reasonably for it.
The first two still apply, the second hasn't been true due to years of no or very low pay rises across the company (not for the CEO though - he got a 32% rise last year)

I’ve got young children and I feel like that; I made peace with the idea that my career needs to plateau for the next few years and I’m too tired to give headspace to development. I try to identify things that are small and achieveable yet sound good for these things

I hear you, sister! During your appraisal, just pick an easy -to-achieve task that ticks the box and allows you to continue doing what you're doing. A badged, freebie Open University course, for example, if there's an interesting one available.

It's OK to not want to progress if you are happy where you are. As PP have said, choose things that are achievable and not too difficult, maybe improve your knowledge in some way rather than involving actively changing your role.

I don't want to progress particularly, I earn a decent wage, I enjoy my job, not enough responsibility to get shouted at and I don't have to take my phone on holiday.

I always say that I'm happy at my current level but would like to do some qualifications in xyz specialisms over the course of the next year. Means I usually get a fairly decent pay rise every year but get to stay at the same level. To be honest, I'm at a point now where I'm getting paid more than someone new two levels above me.

Stress that at this stage, you are looking to 'broaden' and 'deepen' your skill set (🙄) rather than progress into any kind of higher role.

Then make up tell them what that might involve. Hopefully, they won't know enough about what you actually do to challenge any of it

<jaded and cynical>

We actually recognise that there are some people who have found the level that they are happy at and don't aspire to higher management, but they are valuable employees. PDP plans for them are focused on making sure they have skills and knowledge that's up to date so look at that - are there new systems or developments in your job role that you could benefit from knowing, more advanced skills in a certain area?

Thanks all - some great ideas here I'm going to use.

Yeah I would definitely focus on skills but don’t actually say you’re just happy where you are because you don’t want to be overlooked in the future. You might think you do now but when the kids are older who knows?

Im feeling the same right now. I’ve had periods where I’m really ambitious but now I’m tired and just want to take my foot off the pedal for a while.