One commonly heard Brand U metaphor is we’re becoming actors in the theater of work. We’ll move from job to job, project to project much like actors move from play to play, production to production on TV, radio, movies, and Broadway. Some roles are starring – most are supporting.
Or, Brand U career moves are described in terms of horizontal or lateral progression in a webbed organization. We start at the middle and move outwards on one of the strands. Sometimes, we detour on a lateral strand to start a new career, job, or even a business. This is happening already. Only a third of US workers who are transferred receive a promotion as part of a transfer and a larger percentage, about 35% of the people are moved laterally or are demoted.[i]
Or, is a Brand U career a patchwork quilt? We develop value-adding skills and move around a chessboard or patchwork quilt. While these Brand U metaphors are not as powerful and inspirational as the career ladder, one will arise that most of us will accept.
[i] “Work Week,” Wall Street Journal, December 8, 1997. P. A1.