Turning down a promotion at work can feel counterintuitive. Climbing the corporate ladder may be the conventional route, but it’s not necessarily the best choice for every situation — especially if the promotion on the table doesn’t match with where you want your career to go or isn’t right for your current circumstances. So, how do you say, “Thanks, but no thanks,” without making things awkward? How can you avoid sounding lazy or ungrateful? And is there a chance to mold the opportunity into something that better aligns with your financial and professional goals?