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Lateral Moves

One occasionally misunderstood method to recognize and reward employees is with a transfer from one job to another. Some managers and employees still regard such a move as a punishment or vote of no confidence, but nothing could be further from the truth.

A transfer is designed to take solid and productive employees and provide them with new and challenging responsibilities that better match their knowledge, skills, and abilities. When you transfer your employees, the real message is that you understand them as individuals, and you are rewarding them with increased opportunities to learn, grow, and advance.

Employees and jobs are dynamic entities, and both change over time. Sometimes they grow together, and sometimes they grow apart. When excellent employees start to diverge from the jobs, a transfer can be a great reward for the employee and the company.