How can you use problem-solving to identify career roadblocks?

Career Roadblocks can be categorized into 3 types 1) Self: Do you lack confidence, trust, skills, and capabilities 2) Environment: Lack of support, workplace politics, workplace culture, socio-cultural biases 3) Ecosystem : Disruptions - technological, geo-politics, recessions, and factors that are totally out of your control

Personal accountability is the linchpin in overcoming career challenges. While blaming others is tempting, genuine progress demands finding paths around obstacles. Whether going under, over, or around, the focus should be on navigating challenges rather than assigning blame. This mindset shift is foundational for professional growth and dismantling the notion of insurmountable career roadblocks. Identify the sources of dissatisfaction and create a plan of action. Get to root cause, take control of the controllables, ignore the rest and take action. You have more control than you think.

We often lack depth perception when we consider evaluating our own career roadblocks. It's helpful o have an outside-in perspective to unravel these blocks: 1) Seek inputs and feedback - from trusted colleagues, 360 feedback, etc. 2) Family and friends - who know your core strengths, values, beliefs, wants, perceptions 3) Professional Coaches and Mentors - these can help yu move beyond what you know and what you don't know.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, overthinking career roadblocks might make things worse. Instead of intense self-analysis, take an action-oriented approach. Act, decide, and learn from the results. Too much self-reflection can lead to inaction. Also, focus on understanding your current position and identifying gaps. Take decisive steps and learn through experience to navigate your career effectively, without getting stuck in overthinking every obstacle.

Contrary to the typical analytical methods recommended, a contrarian approach to career roadblocks suggests that excessive analysis may lead to unnecessary complexity. Instead of relying heavily on tools like SWOT, Root Cause, and Pareto analyses, consider a more intuitive and adaptive approach. Place greater emphasis on real-time adjustments, learning from trial and error, and staying attuned to evolving circumstances. Sometimes, relying too heavily on structured analyses can hinder responsiveness to dynamic challenges. An approach that values adaptability and quick adjustments may offer a more effective way to navigate and overcome career roadblocks.

Contrary to the conventional emphasis on structured methods like brainstorming, mind mapping, and SCAMPER, a contrarian perspective suggests that simplicity and immediate action can be more impactful. Instead of relying extensively on elaborate techniques, consider a more straightforward and agile approach. Actively engage in small-scale experiments, seek feedback, and adapt quickly. The constant pursuit of innovative solutions may sometimes be hindered by the complexity of formal methods. A more straightforward, action-oriented strategy may yield practical solutions for overcoming career roadblocks.