Leadership roles may not suit your top-performing employee, asserts one business owner

Mawave Marketing, a thriving marketing agency boasting clients such as Red Bull, Nike, and Lidl, has introduced a unique approach to employee development. The company now offers two distinct career paths: the Expert Track and the Leadership Track.

This innovative system allows employees to specialize in their technical fields or focus on team leadership, depending on their interests and aspirations. Both tracks are equally valued at the company, with equal recognition, career progression, and salary logic.

Jason Modemann, the founder and CEO of Mawave Marketing, initially stumbled into his leadership role but now embraces it wholeheartedly. Modemann, who started his agency from his childhood bedroom at the tender age of 19, enjoys motivating people, taking on responsibility, communicating visions, and helping each individual improve.

The Expert Track is designed for employees who wish to specialize, drive innovation, and take responsibility for quality and performance. In contrast, the Leadership Track focuses on working with people, leading teams, decision-making, building structures, and co-creating culture. Leadership, it should be noted, is distinct from delivering solutions; it involves supporting growth, mediating conflicts, and decision-making with a team-focused approach.

Good leadership, according to Modemann, starts by asking the honest question: "Who do I truly trust with this role and why?" Employees can switch between paths, moving from Leadership Track to Expert Track or vice versa, to find the path that best suits their skills and ambitions.

Career progression is possible as an expert without managerial responsibility or a leadership role. Not everyone needs to lead to be successful, but everyone should have the freedom to choose the path that suits them best. At Mawave Marketing, a switch from Leadership Track to Expert Track is not considered a step back, but rather a choice to focus on one's technical expertise.

Mawave Marketing currently employs 150 individuals, all of whom benefit from this flexible development system. The company's system of distinguishing tracks is recommended for founders and entrepreneurs who want to create a nurturing environment for their employees, allowing them to grow and thrive in their chosen paths.

In a world where many companies push their employees towards management roles, Mawave Marketing stands out by acknowledging that not everyone needs to lead to be successful. By offering two distinct development paths, the Expert Track and the Leadership Track, Mawave Marketing empowers its employees to choose the path that best suits their skills, interests, and aspirations.