Do you offer your people the chance to “move up” and hierarchically manage more people? In a zero sum game, where management positions are limited by volume its a tough game to play.
Or, do you play the “talent development” game instead and let people move around and about during their career. Gaining skills, experiences, exposure to new projects, ideas, and tasks throughout their time with you?
This kind of talent mobility is what people crave more than just the career ladder. Is it on offer where you work?