Its more than a “conversation starter.” It is the key question to determine how well someone has thought through their career trajectory and how well they have prepared for what they want to do next.
Every new role brings new challenges
When I am conducting a search for leadership talent, it is fairly common that I reach out to someone who I believe is a fit for the role based upon what could be the next step in their career. What I can learn by using this probing question reveals how clear someone is about their career aspirations and uncovers their ambition for new and more difficult challenges. Every new role, if an “upward” move, brings new unanticipated challenges that even though a person thinks they are prepared for, test their abilities in unexpected ways. Most commonly people making a move up to the next rung in management is the complexity of unforseen challenges. This is of course new to any first time manager, but also true at every level. Sure they still only have one boss, but the complexity of their role and the number of variables outside their control can be confounding when it first sinks in. Making the transition from being an “individual Contributor” to a manager requires creativity unlike anything else previously known. It requires one to find ways of helping other “individual contributors” find success. The problem for many is that they are promoted or recruited into these roles without ever being groomed for them.
Make deliberate efforts to prepare
So when I ask the question, “What is the next logical step in your career?” I want to know why you believe it makes sense and how you have been prepared for it. If you don’t have a clear answer, this is an area you may want to consider. If you aren’t being groomed by your manager for the next career step, perhaps you need to take matters into your own hands and start developing the necessary skills to make the move. Sometimes you can take an intermediate step and find a mentor or change managers either by moving within your company or outside your company. If you’re content with the status quo, then stick with what you’re doing. While there’s no harm in that, you may one day decide to be more proactive.
