What Is a Lateral Move?
A lateral move refers to a shift in responsibilities rather than a step up or down in position. Instead of focusing on promotion, it allows employees to explore new areas, gain diverse experience, and expand their skill sets.
For example, an employee may move from operations to customer success or from recruitment to learning and development—without a change in designation level.
Why Are Lateral Moves Important?
A well-planned lateral move strategy benefits both employees and organizations:
- Skill Enhancement: Employees develop new competencies and broaden expertise
- Employee Engagement: Reduces monotony and keeps employees motivated
- Internal Mobility: Encourages growth opportunities within the organization
- Workforce Flexibility: Builds a versatile and adaptable team
- Retention Improvement: Helps retain talent by offering new career paths
Lateral Move vs Promotion
- Lateral Move: Same level, different role or function
- Promotion: Higher position with increased responsibilities and compensation
While promotions focus on vertical growth, lateral moves support horizontal career development.
Examples of Lateral Moves
- Moving from sales to account management
- Transitioning from HR operations to talent acquisition
- Shifting from technical support to product roles
Best Practices for Managing Lateral Moves
- Align moves with employee interests and business needs
- Provide training or onboarding support for new roles
- Clearly define roles and expectations
- Use HRMS tools to track and manage internal movements