Anyone Did Not Have Any Ambition To Progress In The Workplace?

[dave50]

I have worked all my life but never did I have any ambition to move up the company ladder or have more responsibility. I was always happy to plod along doing what I was doing in a moderately paid job that go me through life with little stress as possible. I worked hard but knew the job and I was happy with that. Managed to marry,  buy a house have kids but wasn't bothered about carrear progression. Am I unusual?

[barry1010]

There is a lot to be said for contentment.

It's a wise person who knows enough is sufficient.

[bookbinder]

I was once promoted to be foreman at the printing firm where I had worked for a long time. I did not like the job of foreman, because I did  not like having to sort out other people's mistakes. 

[jourdain2]

As a teacher, I somehow managed to become head of Dept. for English and also Art (later on) - v. small Dept/school.  

It was huge extra stress and work - I went back happily to being a classroom teacher.  I wasn't the only one.  A v. large Comprehensive in Bradford, where I taught, sort of 'cycled' members of the dept. - each managed about 2 to 3 yrs and then happily gave it up.

[Hymie]

During my working life, whilst I might not have had an ambition to climb the corporate ladder – I gained promotion through doing the job at a higher skill/knowledge level (and being recognised for such by peers and management).

 

During my annual appraisal – I’d say that I was happy in my current position; and in response to where do you see yourself in 5 years?  My best answer was ‘Retired’.

[davebro3]

I worked in the civil service & later a privatised branch for 30 odd years without a single promotion - the next steps up were management roles or other jobs I didn't want. 

I got good reports & performance related pay rises. Being ambitious isn't the be all and end all.

 

[Atheist]

Like jourdain, the higher I got the less I liked it. I enjoyed the job, but promotion simply took me away from what I enjoyed and tried to get me involved in stuff that others enjoyed because it gave them more money and bullship.

 

[ToraToraTora]

In my opinion it is a failing of employment that when you are really good at something they promote you so you are not doing it anymore. I always refused promotion into "management" because you may as well have a brain transplant. Management is an entirely different skill which I did not have and never wanted to have. I always hated that. In the end I had to go contract so they paid me loads of dosh to do what I am best at. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than manage people. So what happens is useless cretins end up "managing" things.

[douglas9401]

Surely you could have brought your people skills, along with your expertise, to the project and whipped workers into shape, Tora.

You might have had songs written about you, films made even.

[ToraToraTora]

19:32 I don't mind managing tech teams who have clue what they are doing to implement a solution but that's not people managing. I'm not interested in them beyond the job, I don't want to do their appraisals and objectives and all that sheet. I just take the brief from the bank that hires me and implement what they want, that's what I have done most of my life. Tell you what dougie, I guarantee that you have used some of my code. Now there is a sobbering thought!

[-SharonA-]

When I retired, it was from the position of team leader. I couldn't wait to retire as the older I got the more stressful the job became!!! Deadlines, staff squabbles, endless useless meetings, staying late to correct things. I'm gone!

[douglas9401]

Funny, you come across as a management type.

[JinnyJoan]

I was a typing manager for years in the Civil Service and ironically was talking to a friend this afternoon and I told her I regretted being a manager.

At my last post I was manager of 22 women and 10 I was very fond of the other 12 gave me a terrible life.  ]

From the one of the ones (at the time) I was fond of told me that one of the bad ladies ripped me apart every day of my time with them and because her back was to me (I lipread) I never knew what she was saying.  One of the goodies told me many years ago or what was trying to tell me what the baddy said and I told the goodie not to tell me cos I knew it would upset me so much.  But I only went for the interview for a laugh thinking I would never get it with my disability and I was a sorry woman