In theory, everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder. With promotions come steps up that eventually land an employee in the coveted management echelon, with the opportunity to increase both their pay grade and influence.

Yet in practice--as anyone who has ever had a lousy boss or manager can tell you--<A HREF="http://blogs.zdnet.com/careers/?p=138&tag=nl.e539">not everyone is actually cut out to be a manager.</A> Perhaps they're happiest buried in thick lines of code or have little patience for the schmoozing or interest in the visibility that come with more pivotal roles. Perhaps they're better suited for other things.