When you're asked to apply for a promotion-but you're not sure you want it

"Being asked to apply for a promotion is often framed as an unqualified win: validation that your work is seen and your potential recognized. Yet for many high-achieving professionals, that invitation can spark as much ambivalence as excitement. Because the question isn't only "Can I do this?" It's also "Do I want to live this way?" Promotions can be career accelerators, but they also reconfigure your days, your priorities, and your sense of balance."

"There's an undeniable thrill in being seen. Someone has connected the dots between your competence and your potential. A promotion can expand your reach and amplify your impact. But recognition isn't the same as readiness. The women I coach rarely question whether they can do the job; they question whether they can do it well while maintaining the life they've intentionally built."

Being asked to apply for a promotion can deliver validation while also provoking ambivalence about long-term implications. Career advancement often reshapes daily routines, priorities, and overall balance, making readiness distinct from recognition. Professionals should envision a typical future day to assess what will be energizing or draining. Interview processes can entice attachment to possibility, so enter with clarity about what success looks like. Deciding from intention rather than momentum helps ensure the role aligns with the current season of life and with the ability to maintain intentionally built personal and family commitments.

Read at Fast Company