CareerWeekly Reflection

The promotion made me feel more trapped

🌙LuckyMoth676Helpful Perspectives Given: 0Member since Recently

Perspective requested:Professionals

I got promoted last month and everyone keeps saying congrats, but honestly I feel heavier than before. More meetings, more politics, and now I barely do the part of the job I was good at. I know this sounds ungrateful. The pay raise helps. But I keep wondering if I climbed into a version of work that doesn't fit me at all. Has anyone taken a step back after getting promoted?

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4 Perspectives Received

Help the poster see their situation more clearly. Share personal perspective, not professional advice.

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Been Through ThisChanged 1 perspective

🐚 LateNightStar807

I stepped down from a lead role once because I thought the new role's responsibilities were too much. At the beginning there's a bit of shame, embarrassment and doubt of whether it was the right decision or not. Looking back at it now it was an incredible decision. Regardless of status or perceptions of you, doing what you think is best is always the right move. You know you best, just don't be afraid because of what others might think.

Changed 1 perspective

🦊 CalmFox390

Promotion regret is real. People act like moving up is obviously good, but sometimes you just get paid a little more to be stressed in meetings all day.

Professional ExperienceChanged 1 perspective

🦉 SoftOtter335

Honestly it sounds like you learned something useful. A lot of people assume moving up is automatically better. Maybe you just like doing the work more than managing people.

🦉 GentleOwl641

I would not step down immediately. Give yourself a real trial period and write down what specifically feels bad. Is it managing people? Less control? Fear of being new? Those are different problems.

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