Are there other people out there who don’t want to ‘progress’ at work?!

[HerculesMulligann]

I’m 43, working in a policy related role for a charity, earning around £40k per year. I’m pretty happy with my job - I have some responsibility and autonomy but not so much that it stresses me out. I feel I’m paid a fair wage. My work-like balance is pretty good. I’m been in roles at this level for nearly 10 years.

The problem is I feel like there’s an implicit, and sometimes explicit, expectation that I should be aiming to progress to the next level. Many of my colleagues on the same grade (aged 28-35ish) are keen to take on more responsibilities and get promoted after a couple of years in the role. Which is great for them, and I’ve watched a number of them get promotions.

I’m confident in my own decision to stay at the level I’m currently at. Any promotion would mean taking on a role that has less of what I’m good at (in-depth project work, writing reports, nice mix of processy tasks and other tasks that use my brain more) and more of things I’m less keen on (loads of meetings, ‘big picture’ strategic thinking, the stress of more responsibility).

I guess I’m frustrated at this expectation that everyone must want to progress, and that if you don’t you’re a bit weird. At my most recent performance review I could tell that my line manager (mid-thirties, well on way with high flying career) was just a bit perplexed that I wouldn’t want to progress. And just to be clear I’m more than happy to take on new things, am open to change etc, I just don’t want to move up a level!

I think part of the issue is that senior management teams are always going to be full of people who did choose the ‘progression’ route, and so company cultures are geared up to see this as a norm. Whereas in my mind progression is something that should be an option, not an expectation.

It’s been this way at all of the workplaces I’ve worked at and I’m wondering if it’s a universal thing? Does anyone else feel like I do, and if so how have you managed the expectation that you will ‘progress’ to the next level? I fear the expectation that I should progress is only going to get worse as I get older!

I was like this in my previous job. I was a single parent at the time so my 35hr week plus doing everything at home was enough for me. Management offered and encouraged progression , which I turned down for the above reasons. I felt a lot of pressure so ended up moving to a similar role at a different place.

Out of interest does anyone here work in HR?

I'm really struggling with it at the moment and am thinking I might have to change career. My boss has told me that HR isn't the type of role where you can stand still, she is expecting me to do a lot of stuff out of hours too. Constantly talks about being the best HR Professional, continuous professional development, doing a CPD, being a 'next generation leader', etc.

All I want to do is go to work, do a good job and then go home. I don't have a managerial bone in my body and it leaves me anxious the thought of having to do it.

@user1471453601

I was in a similar situation before I had to take early retirement because of sudden health issues.

I think one of my managers told me why people in his situation disliked managing people who were not interested in promotion. He said I was difficult to manage because I knew more than him about my area of expertise, and he had no leverage over me, because I don't need i or want anything from him.

He was right on both areas.

So, opening poster, it's not you, it's them

I think that's a really good point User

I am in a not so dissimilar position now. I am a manger, but have absolutely no desire to go even further. I am skilled and good at what I do, and they sort of need me more than I need them. We've reached a time of life where the dc are grown up, and the mortgage is paid off. DH loves his job and earns more than enough for the both of us now, so if I chose to leave, I could quite easily. It feels very different from when I was in my 30s or 40s and I needed the job. The whole balance shifts a little. I no longer need the work. I no longer need references if I do decide to leave. I am no longer vulnerable.
Your manager had it spot on.

@hayley037 I’m not in HR but your manager’s perspective sounds very annoying.

I get so frustrated when it’s completely acceptable (and sometimes actively encouraged!) for promotion seeking types to act as though their attitude is the norm and that anything else is second best. I wouldn’t dream of trying to tell colleagues who wanted to apply for the next level up that they shouldn’t and should stay at their current level. But apparently it’s fine for them to tell me I must be interested in promotion! Surely workplaces need a balance between the two types of people to function effectively anyway?

The Peter Principle states that if you are good at your job, you will eventually be promoted to a position where you are not good at your job.
Staying where you feel competent, fulfilled and respected for what you do is the way to avoid being ensnared by the Peter Principle!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle

I've recently done a lateral move. I was getting a lot piled upon me and they were taking the piss, quite frankly. I'm not interested in scooching up the corporate ladder; I'm a technical bod and I do it because I enjoy it. The sideways move has let me get rid of that responsibility pile-on. Hopefully I can just stay technical in the role. I have a chronic illness so I'm not willing to destroy my health to line manage people!

Also 43 and thoroughly enjoy the job I do. Lots of opportunities to move up but I have a good work life balance, can work part time, and have no interest in changing that.

There is a really good article by Lottie Jeffs on this in this months ‘Elle ‘

Is your ambition making you anxious? A new rebel army is seeking a smaller, happier, less performative existence...
interesting to me as about to leave a pressured job and will be looking in the future for something where I have time ‘ to smell the roses ‘

I'm a teacher, I don't want any more responsibility than that. I also work part time, one of the (many) reasons I do is there's less expectation to take on more!

I'm exactly the same. I'm lucky enough to have a very nice salary after much studying and working crazy hours climbing the career ladder all through my 20s and early 30s. But I have some serious health issues and I am a single parent to young children so have no desire to be promoted again, I'm happy in my role: interesting but no stress, no overtime expected, good company and colleagues, no people to manage, very flexible, I earn enough to provide for us comfortably on my own and have decent job security etc. It's all about priorities and I focused almost everything on work for a long time to get to this level but now I'm here I'm quite content with it.

Sometimes there is a similar argument for people like me who run their own business. Mine is a "lifestyle" business in that I enjoy doing what I do and it provides me with an adequate income. I am in my 70s and at my time of life i just want to jog along. I dont want to grow my business or have the added responsibility of employing someone. If there is a business downturn I can just tighten my belt. However if I have employees I have to find money for their wages every week. Plus there is the burden of all the tax and NI regulation. No thank you.

There is a difference between lacking ambition and being contented with your lot.

Thank you to everyone who’s posted. Made me realise that it’s not me who was ‘wrong’ - I should have stuck to my guns and stayed at my previous level. Job hunting starts today.

I had ambition to get where I am, but I'm happy and content, been here 10 years and it will see me through to retirement. I know my job well, I'm comfortable.

Yep, I do project work and move through a lot of organisations. I usually end up shadowing someone like you because they're often the 'safe pair of hands'

What's even worse is people who have been more senior and decide to scale down (especially mums) they are often are pitied as if it wasn't their choice.

My advice is to over embellish your outside hobbies, people won't try to 'fix' the career of the person who's the world champion gnome painter in their spare time lol.

Depending on how well correlated progression is with extra benefits, it sometimes just isn't worth it.

There are people in some of the teams I manage (who are two promotions down from me) who are earning about 80% of what I earn, with a fraction of the stress and responsibility. This is partly because salaries in the profession I work in are quite high for well qualified technical staff. Managers of such staff will earn an increment more, not multiples more - the multiples require more seniority!

So there are many, many days where I really question whether or not this is worth it! And I can definitely see myself taking a step down at some point, i.e. moving company and stepping down from management.

If I am being entirely honest with myself I definitely do not enjoy the stress, I just really want to do as well as I can (at the moment).

One thing I meant to add is, exactly as some posters have commented, in many corporate environments these days your survival chances are impacted if you signal an unwillingness to take on more. And in others there is an explicit "up or out" mentality (e.g. Big Four, law firms etc).

At least part of my attitude to getting ahead was simply about avoiding the axe, I am sure!

Similar to Bargebill19, I had promotion pressured on to me, and I hate it. I've had to go up to full time from .8, with loads more responsibility and I didn't even get a pay rise, just the pro rata lift! I'm now looking for a new job and it really grates as I loved my old role so much. Everyone says "congratulations on your promotion, you must be thrilled" and I inwardly grimace...

I am in a similar role to you OP, possibly one rung lower, and I can't see myself wanting promotion any time soon if ever. I feel I have finally achieved the right balance of betweeb processy and project/interesting work and I don't want any responsibility for big decisions!

This is exactly how I feel. I like my job and I like to do it to a high standard, but there is no way I want to move into one of the more managerial roles.

Currently, I have a good wage and a good work-life balance. I have no need for any more. Managers are more or less expected to do long hours and be available 24/7. They also have endless meetings. Everything I hate.

I also plan to take early retirement on the first day it is available to me. Some people think I'm nuts but there's more to life than work (and I realise that I am in a very fortunate position being able to do this)!

From a company perspective people staying in the same role, for way too long, has drawbacks.

They have invested in years of you gaining experience to move up to the next level so they can utilise that experience.

You are blocking others who are ambitious taking on your role as a stepping stone.

Many, not all, people in the same role for years become stuck in their ways and even if they think they do it to a high standard don't recognise improvement opportunities, or live too much in problems of the past to accept any change with enthusiasm.

I've been in my current role for 9 years now, still learning something new most days and enjoy it. I've got my annual appraisal in June where yet again I will get a glowing report, but when asked what my ambitions are I will say none! I know it frustrates them, I think know I am good at my job, and I know I am blocking others who have expressed interest in my role.

@jollyjoshy

Similar to Bargebill19, I had promotion pressured on to me, and I hate it. I've had to go up to full time from .8, with loads more responsibility and I didn't even get a pay rise, just the pro rata lift! I'm now looking for a new job and it really grates as I loved my old role so much. Everyone says "congratulations on your promotion, you must be thrilled" and I inwardly grimace...

Jolly - the grimacing chimes so much.

I’ve just handed in my notice. The relief is immeasurable. Never ever again will I be bullied into accepting promotion I really don’t feel my heart wanting.

I know I am blocking others who have expressed interest in my role.

Good point. I spent a lot of years also eyeing up the roles of people who didn't leave. A more senior role would be the end of my career though. I would burn out and resign!

I'm exactly the same as you OP.

I'm 50 and no myself well enough to know that the next level up would be strategy planning, dealing with difficult senior stakeholders and producing a lot of powerpoint decks.

Instead in the role I'm in I focus on actual delivery and working with the people in the team to get the best results. I like it and I'm good at it, but as our program manager is leaving people seem to think I want to take on the role - likely with no extra pay. So instead I'm trying to move sideways, which I've taken to doing every couple of years so people don't take you for granted and you don't get roped into taking on more and more responsibility because you seem vaguely capable.

This year I want to go on lots of holidays and do things at the weekend as soon as the world starts opening up - I can't do that if I'm overwhelmed at work.

I feel like this, but my manager doesn't understand it. To keep her happy, I mentioned a part of the role that does really interest me, how I like that kind of work and find it motivates me more. I'd be happy taking on more of this within my own role/department.

Next thing I know, she's arranged a meeting for me to speak to the senior manager of a different department with a view to arranging a secondment and possible "sideways" move. I'm dreading it (it's tomorrow). I don't want to move sideways, I'm happy where I am!

@SingingSands. Ekkk! I hope it really works out for you. Can you do the secondment with a proviso it’s short and you return to exactly where you were? Or do you think this a line up for a ‘might as well make it permanent’?