Stuck on career decision - please help!

[AmIclutchingmypearls]

I know I am unreasonable - completely stuck making a career decision and would greatly appreciate any comments!

I am currently in middle management, good salary for the work involved, very comfortable , low stress in a mid size business I know well. The next layer of management are the company directors (the business owners) and they have mentioned I would be in line for directorship in future although not within the next couple of years at least and there are several others at my level, some of whom have more responsibilities than me or have been with the business longer so I feel they are likely ahead of me for directorship (if they would want it as it involves investment) and some of them are part time whereas I am full time which could be relevant.

I have been offered another role at a very similar company, similar role, slightly more stress and a small salary increase. I would be highly unlikely to ever be offered directorship in this company, but they have another layer of higher management that I could work towards.

The new role would offer potential for a quicker salary increase with more responsibility but would rule out the possibility of the bigger financial rewards that come with business ownership, potentially available down the line with my current role.

Any thoughts, advice or general comments greatly appreciated!

It's a tough one - generally I'd be reluctant to move from a job and company I like, am well established in and where generally all the other factors are good, for only a small salary increase, more stress and no guarantee, only a chance of further career progression. Moving jobs is always a risk, you of course lose all your accrued employment rights and there's no real way of knowing what the new job is like, how the people and company culture are until you're in, whereas staying where you are is always going to be the safer option. But of course it's all relative, and situation specific, and if you never take any risk you'll never progress.

I guess for me it would come down to (a) how small is the small increase, are we talking so small it would make no appreciable difference in your life? (b) is the only realistic option of progression (outside of getting a directorship in your current company) to move elsewhere? Would it not be possible to apply for a more middle-management or senior management job at a different company from where you are now, or in your industry are those nearly always recruited from within? (c) if the financials were exactly the same for both options, would you rather be a normal employee or own (part of) the business yourself, i.e. how much does the idea of ownership appeal? There's no right or wrong answer there, some people just are temperamentally more suited to one or the other - not saying the money isn't important, it absolutely is, but just it's not the only factor!

If you like the people you work with and it's a lower stress role, I would stay where you are. Do you have kids? How complicated is your life? How much do you need the money? Those would be the questions I would also be factoring in.

Thank you both for your replies and giving me lots to think about!

I do have young children but otherwise uncomplicated. Both roles offer lots of flexibility.

Thank you again!