There’s a VA on my client’s team that I’ve worked with for over 6 years.
She’s reliable, kind, thoughtful, consistent. One of the best VAs I’ve ever worked with.
Over the years, I’ve asked her countless times if she wants to grow into something more. Take on more responsibility. Learn new skills. Expand her scope.
Every time, her answer is the same: “Nope, I’m good right where I am!”
And I respect that so much.
It’s not that she’s not smart or capable (she’s both). It’s not that she doesn’t have drive or ambition.
She’s a busy mom to 2 young kids and has a full client roster. She values predictability and ease, and she likes knowing exactly what’s expected of her every day. She loves getting things done and done well.
And while I would love to train her into a higher level or management role, that’s not what she wants. She knows her capacity and desires, and she communicates them clearly.
Knowing this has been such a gift (and a large reason why she’s been on the team for 6+ years). Because it means we don’t project something onto her that she doesn’t want. She gets to stay in a role that she loves without feeling pressure to change or take on more.
It also means my client and I don’t feel “guilty” or weird about bringing in an OBM or specialized role when we need higher-level thinking because we already know that’s not what she’s looking for.
So here’s a little gut check:
Is there someone on your team you’ve been hoping would “step up”… but they’re just not?
Is that actually what they want?
There’s a big difference between someone who wants to grow into a higher-level role but doesn’t know how… and someone who’s truly happy right where they are.
If you don’t know the answer, ask.
Not every team member wants to climb the ladder. Some want to stay in their lane and do their work really well.
And that’s more than okay.
Your strength as a leader is in understanding your team, what makes them thrive, and allowing them to be in that space (obviously assuming, that is, that it aligns with what you need in the business).
When you stop trying to shape someone into a role they don’t want, you create space to build a team that works with you and who are happy to stay with you long-term.
