Build Skills, Not Just Titles: The Secret to Sustainable Career Growth
Earlier in my career, I was driven, hungry, and laser-focused on climbing the career ladder. This mindset can be excellent when striving to achieve goals and improve yourself. However, if your primary focus is chasing titles rather than acquiring the skills needed to succeed, you risk undermining your growth and potential.
I believed I’d climb the ladder faster if I worked harder than my peers. And it worked—on paper, at least. Within five years, I progressed from junior to senior software engineer to team lead and eventually to leading software architecture for my company. While that trajectory looks impressive, in hindsight, I advanced faster than I was genuinely ready for. Admitting this isn’t easy, but it’s the truth.
Fortunately, my mentor and boss recognized my readiness to grow and supported my development in each new role, trusting that I could navigate the challenges ahead. However, when I transitioned into the architecture role, I encountered significant gaps in my skillset, which led to an intense struggle with imposter syndrome.
The Peter Principle in Action
The book The Peter Principle by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull explains a phenomenon where competent individuals are promoted to roles requiring entirely different skills. Without the necessary talent for the new position, they become incompetent and stagnate in their career. This principle described precisely where I had found myself.
Moving up too quickly affected my performance and had social implications. Some of my peers were less receptive to my ideas and suggestions, which created friction and made collaboration more challenging. Jealousy, resentment, and other feelings can emerge when someone rises quickly through the ranks. On a personal level, I felt the distance grow between me and colleagues who had once been close allies. The grace I had enjoyed in earlier roles was gone, and the stakes were suddenly much higher.
Had it not been for the guidance and support of my CTO and the director of engineering, who invested in my development and helped me close the gaps in my skills, the situation could have had a much more negative impact on my career. What had initially felt like an edge—rapid advancement—had turned into a significant deficit.
Shifting Focus: Skills Over Titles
With their coaching, I redirected my energy from chasing titles to acquiring the skills I needed to succeed. This shift in focus was transformative. When it came time to move on to a new role, I consciously took a step back, accepting a senior engineering position instead of seeking a higher title. Though this wasn’t ideal for my ego, it allowed me to focus on earning my next promotion through preparation and sustained excellence. Within three months, I was promoted to engineering team lead, but I was now prepared to do well in the role.
Unlike my earlier experience, I wasn’t scrambling to catch up or backfill missing skills. I had already developed the competence required to excel in the role. My new boss had a philosophy I deeply admire and now implement myself: To be promoted, you must demonstrate sustained excellence for at least 90 days, proving that you’re prepared to step into the role and succeed. This approach emphasizes skill development over simply rewarding hard work.
The Bigger Picture
If you have gone through or are going through these challenges, I would encourage you to take a step back and evaluate whether you’re working for the title or working for the skills. Titles often depend on factors beyond your control, but skill development is entirely within your grasp. Learn to embrace the process of growth and self-improvement, and you’ll find that opportunities naturally follow.
When you prioritize becoming better over simply climbing higher, you position yourself to succeed not just in your next role but in every role that follows. Skills are the foundation of a fulfilling and sustainable career. Focus on building them, and the rest will take care of itself.