How to Grow Your Career Without Chasing Titles
Tactics to help you craft your career path, levelling up on your own terms
Last week I wrapped up my Thursday deep dives, where throughout February, I met 20 leaders tackling a wide range of challenges from levelling up their careers, their teams or their products. One question seemed to occur more than any other:
“How do I reach lead/staff/director level?”
It’s a question I was often asked as a manager too.
My answer?
Unfortunately, there’s no silver bullet. What I can offer are a few prompts to help you reframe the question and work through what growth looks like for you, and a thought partner to explore each avenue that opens up.
Let’s unpack three elements:
1. Remove the Job Title
“Wait, didn’t I just say I want to reach ‘lead/staff/director’ level?”
Job titles are just shorthand. They don’t translate directly between companies, and they don’t guarantee higher pay, more influence, or fulfilling work. While early in your career, a ‘senior’ prefix can be a useful horizon to aim for, but at higher levels, growth becomes more nuanced.
Instead of focusing exclusively on a title, unpack what meaningful growth looks like for you. The title might follow, but it’s an outcome, usually beyond your control, not the goal itself.
2. Stack Rank What Matters Most
A tool I often use in early promotion discussions is a variation of Katie Dill’s recognition languages. I ask folks to take some time on their own to re-order the following list based on the question: If I could change 1–3 things for you right now, which would be most important?
Higher salary
More equity
Increased responsibility
Greater influence or status
More business impact
More autonomy
New skills or experiences
Different projects or teams
(A more senior job title)
When we meet to discuss I’ll often ask questions to understand why and what meaningful improvement would look like in each high-priority area. This helps both sides clarify what’s really driving an individual’s growth ambitions, and often leads to a number of practical steps an individual can take to move in this direction. And sometimes, the best next step isn’t a new title at all.
While this is a valuable management exercise, I’ve found it even more valuable for the individual. Many folks have rarely thought about their career growth in this way, but going through the process can bring a stronger sense of control and ownership for a path forward that feels more tailored and personally meaningful.
3. Are You in a Season to Broaden or Deepen?
Early in your career, the goal is breadth. You’re building a strong foundation across various skills. But beyond ‘senior’ growth often shifts toward depth, going deeper into your strengths, to raise the bar or level up those around you.
Understanding whether you’re in a season of broadening or deepening helps you focus your energy. If you don’t define this, your growth may end up shaped by what your company needs rather than what’s energising or meaningful to you.
Throughout your career, you’ll move between these modes. At each inflection point, ask yourself: “What got me here won’t get me there—so what do I need to change?”
Hey, I’m not saying promotions are bad. If it happens, fantastic. But advancing your career isn’t just about a linear series of titles, it’s about defining what meaningful growth looks like for you. By shifting your focus from job titles to what’s personally meaningful, you’ll gain clarity, control, and a stronger sense of conviction in the direction you’re taking.
Plus, different companies value different things, especially at their most senior levels, so spending years reaching the next level at company X may not translate directly to company Y or Z.
Whether you’re in a season of broadening or deepening, the key is to be intentional. Stack rank your priorities, identify where you want to grow, and align your next steps accordingly. The title may come, but more importantly, you’ll be shaping a career that’s fulfilling on your terms.
And if you’d like a thought partner to help you work through what your next step could look like, I’m always happy to chat :)
