So how do all these things piece together? If I develop my subordinate and he does well, he has the potential to move up. That means I positioned myself to become a free body when there’s a new opportunity in the company (most likely it’s a step up). If my boss does well and gets promoted, then I move up because I’m his best successor. Betting on 2 always has a higher probability of winning than betting on 1. In most cases, people only bet on their boss. They don’t see the other side. This concept is very simple. Don’t forget about the guy beneath you.

What about people without subordinates? Bet on your boss & peers in your department. There is no way your boss will let you go do something new if you are the only strong one in his team. If you leave, he’s going to be in a lot of trouble. I can guarantee he will make sure you don’t get taken away until he retires. The trick is to have someone else in the same department that can take over what you do immediately without causing chaos. Otherwise, you will miss out big time. If this is about moving up and taking over your boss’ position, then sorry to say, you’re now stuck with a pretty weak team. As good as you are, you’re still one person. You can only do so much by yourself without some real help from your new subordinates. So get into the habit of teamwork by involving & helping everyone. One day, you might be glad you did it.