Courious to hear from the more seasoned folks toward the end of your career. Have you ever dodged or avoided a promotion? And if so, hindsight 20/20, do you regret you decision? I have to admit when I younger, say in my 20's and early 30's, I was extremely driven. I've jumped the career ladder extremely quickly and I'm extremely young compared to others at my curent level of mangement. But now I'm finding my fortitude shifting. I'm being pressured to take a considerable promotion and being "groomed" for position I'm not exactly excited about. I'm not against an increased work load, but I have a young family that is honestly kicking my butt. And being relatively young (given the position and subsequent title) I'm afraid it could lead to early burn out. Keep in mind I manage a very large territory at my current capacity, with alot of direct reports. Which I'm fine with, although its challenging. I guess I'm at this point in my life where my personal goals (family) and careers goals are not in alinement for the first time and I kinda feeling like I want to dodge my next promotion. One of those, "is the juice worth the squeeze" situations. But I feel like its slippery slope, as dodging the promotion might look bad and I might make some enemies by doing so.
Your post sounds like you already made the decision (not taking the promotion) and you just want confirmation. While there are many things to consider, do you think you are already comfortable with your current salary? There are diminishing returns to salary increases and promotions. I remember when I first broke six figures - I felt so happy at the time. But each additional promotion or salary increase I've gotten since then has had less and less impact on my happiness. I'm at the point when I am already comfortable with my salary and just want to coast / take it easy in a secure, stable job. I love spending time with my wife and son and no amount of money can compensate for that time. At the end of your life, will you or anyone really care whether you made it to C-level? That would probably be the last thing on your mind. Your family will be the last ones sticking by you through all the ups and downs. Your bosses, your job title, prestige - all of it - won't be there and nobody (not even you) will care. You have a limited lifespan - use it wisely.
Well I did it, when realized the price for being promoted was to heavy. After some turbulent time in my life I realized that my priorities needed to be adjusted. Work/home balance became increasingly important to me. This is case by case issue. I avoided promotion when it was an enslaving situation, walking in to more demanding and stressful position. I knew I can succeed in new role but at what cost? In that scenario at the time the promotion meant no life and after a coworker gladly took it as I declined it, he barely lasted a year before quitting. Later another team member was promoted also she resigned a year after the promotion. This is not always the case but in this junction my priorities were stability and good life/work balance so I can be a good husband and father and employee. Everyone's circumstances, abilities and needs are different. Some of my friends climbed the corporate leader, were able to provide better for their families and smart strong personalities that handled well the demanding C level positions. On another job no body asked me, simple when promotion came I was moved in to new role - no questions asked.
It's a tough call. It took me much longer to come to this point than it appears you have and that's a really good thing for you as you'll have plenty of time to steer the ship into the right course. When I reached this point, I decided to use my jobs for the purpose of investing aggressively so I could leave the 9-5 world. That may not be the right path for everyone, but I personally felt that when I was no longer desirous of climbing the ladder and I could no longer derive satisfaction from the work alone, it was time for me to find another path and the easiest way for me to do it was to use the income I was getting from the spot I was already standing in. That worked for me, but for others it may just be a matter of a career change. Sometimes we stagnate because the zeal we once had for the profession we chose fizzles out, we still have the drive we just need a change of scenery, a new challenge that better fits our vision, so in those cases a fresh start can make all the difference in the world. But one thing is for sure, if you take a job you really don't want you're very likely to be miserable and may make others miserable, too. Mood contagion is a devil that can work for both the good and the bad, and the effort to put on a happy face to hide negative feelings will eventually turn into a soul-draining game of emotional labor. Whether we realize it or not, and even though some are better at doing it than others, people often do notice it even if they don't say anything directly to us.
I have dodged several promontions. One major reason is that the Highest Grade and pay level is 5k lower than what my manager is making. Why should I take the heat and politics for 5K? Not taking the promotions is the best decision I made at work.
This is my situation. I already make six figures and live in an area where most households with two income earners make less than half of what I currently make. Money (for me) is not the drawl, this promotion would be a $30K per year increase. However, it would require a move to a large city, in a metro area, I would not want my kids in. (I grew up near San Francisco, so at this point in my life I'm kinda over living in or near a big metro). On top of that, I'd be managing operations for 27 states, which is the largest geographical area (most compriable regional mgmt positions manage between 2-5 states); and pay is exactly the same whether you manage 2 states or 27. And as far as logistics and/or support are concerned, most of our other geographical areas have a better support system in place, which ultimately makes the workload go smoother. Playing devils advocate. I'f I decided to do this, after 3 years I'd "punch my ticket" so to speak and it would open the door to more promotional opportunities at the national level. Which is intriguing (the work that is). If I was in a later stage of my career where my kids were grown, I'd probably do it. But I just don't want to be "that guy" dragging my family around chasing promotional opportunities because I really don't need the money. It would just be more a calculated move to set myself in a better position for future opportunities if I choose to persue them. Plus my kids (at their ages) are kicking my butt. They are like Gladiator babies always fighting. At any time, I can walk into a room and witness one of them giving the other the "peoples elbow." It does take alot out of you, lol.
Yeah but in the back of your mind, your always wondering if you'll still approve of that decision later in life. Hindsight 20/20 is a real SOB.
I'm old enough to know exactly what you mean. But eventually you just have to remember that "it seemed like a good idea at the time" doesn't have to be self-dismissive.
Just ask yourself if you really want to work for whomever they hire for the promotion you refused. Generally I found the answer was "No, not really."
