Employee Training and Development It is not unusual for development managers who have worked at their positions for a significant amount of time to begin to feel listless and desire a new challenge at work. For most employees who are at an organization for any substantial length of time, such a feeling is nearly inevitable. However, there are a number of recommendations and best practices that these individuals can implement to change these circumstances for the better.

Lateral Movement

Ideally, such employees can move up in an organization and attain more responsibility and greater salaries and benefits packages. Many, however, find themselves in situations where for whatever reason, they cannot. In these instances, lateral movement is not only desirable, it is also necessary to eventually gain upward mobility. Lateral movement is simply taking on different responsibilities and different positions in an organization that are not based on either promotions or demotions. Instead, they function as a way for employees to showcase their versatility and utility to an organization (and to those superiors who make decisions about promotions). In such a way, lateral movement allows employees to "move across…diverse businesses and gain experience in a variety of industries" (Hymowitz, 2003).

One of the primary ways that longstanding...

During these sessions their work is evaluated, and they have an opportunity to discuss their future goals as they relate to their organizations (Hymowitz, 2003). These meetings are perfect for an employee to express interest in another line of business, or a related department that he or she can utilize to showcase his or her versatility.
Another principle way that employees can move laterally throughout their organizations is during mergers and acquisitions. Such occurrences are perfect for those employees who have seniority and a degree of expertise about their business to showcase it by training and supervising departments of the newly acquired organization. Sources indicate that such events can "provide new career opportunities for seasoned employees" (Hymowitz, 2003). This type of integration typically represents a time of new beginnings for those employed in both of the organizations that are integrated with one another. As such, those who have positions of seniority can exploit them by working with different people in capacities that are distinct from those in which they typically work.

Creating Opportunities

Occasionally, there are longstanding employees that find themselves in situations in which they cannot…