Career progression tips when you don’t want to be a manager

February 16, 2022

Becoming a manager doesn’t suit everyone. Here’s what to do if you want career progression without the management responsibilities.

You’ve worked hard these past 5, 10 or 15 years, and now all signs point to a team of your own. But here’s the deal: you don’t want it. 

Perhaps the idea of being responsible for others’ KPIs fills you with dread. Or maybe you’re conflict averse. It could be that you’d like to hone your own skills instead of mentoring others. 

There are a variety of reasons why you may not want to become a manager – each of them valid in their own right. What’s important to note is that no matter your situation, recognising that you don’t want to climb the corporate ladder in a traditional fashion can be a positive thing.  It puts you in the position to find other ways to feel fulfilled at work and in life. You just have to figure out how. 

Your career path leads to management, now what?

Being successful isn’t synonymous with being a manager. There are plenty of people in the world living rich, successful lives who don’t have a team of employees beneath them. 

If you feel a management offer within your current workplace is imminent, start having conversations with your own manager that alert them to the fact that you want to take a different path of progression. If you’d like to stay with your current employer, offer ways in which you can support the organisation or business in other ways. Chances are, they’ll be happy to have you put your energy elsewhere if it continues to build profit margins. 

Alternative career advancement opportunities

Once you have realised your desires, and communicated them, it’s time to think big. How might the future of your career look if you let go of the idea that you need to lead a team? 
For those who aren’t drawn to management roles, there are a variety of options.

Career opportunities you hadn’t thought of 

Develop niche knowledge in your field

Continue developing your skills through short courses to gain niche knowledge within your industry.  As a specialist, you could see your earning capacity grow without the responsibilities of other employees on your shoulders.  

Start a sole trade business

Launch a sole trade business and you’ll be the boss. Enjoy the perks of management, including deciding when to do things, and how, without having to weigh up the impacts on a team. 

Work as a consultant

Consultants give advice to organisations to help them achieve business goals. In doing so, they can swoop in, take stock, give insights and then move onto the next big opportunity – no strings attached. 

So, what career path should I take?

In deciding which of the above paths is for you, take the time to consider your current likes and dislikes in the workplace, as well as your wants and needs for the future.

If you appreciate the work life balance you have established, which may include your ability to drop off and pick up the kids from school, you may not be suited to a sole trade business. Meanwhile, the sporadic nature of consulting could be less appealing if you value the regularity of a fortnightly pay cheque, sick leave and annual leave. 

Remember to focus on the positives too. Could upskilling in a niche within your field allow you to breathe new life into your profession? 

Next up, develop a career plan to get you there. After all, many people spend years plotting their path to management. Why not map your route around it? 

What is a career plan?

A career plan needn’t be anything too involved. Start with a simple Word Document to jot down your notes and you’re on your way.

You may even want to adopt the SMART approach to your career plan, using Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time-bound goals to get where you want to be. 

Career advancement through specialised knowledge

If you’ve decided that specialising in a niche area of your current field is the option for you, short courses are an ideal way to upskill without a huge time commitment. Through Open Universities Australia, can upskill online with a short course from leading unis in just 13 weeks.

In just months, you’ll have gained skills from leading academics at reputable universities that will leave your current or future employers “oohing” and “ahhing”.