What do you do if your career development is being hindered by a lack of guidance and support from your boss?

1 Assess your situation

The first step is to assess your current situation and identify the root causes of your frustration. Is your boss too busy, too inexperienced, too indifferent, or too micromanaging? How does this affect your work performance, satisfaction, and motivation? How often do you communicate with your boss and what kind of feedback do you receive? How clear are your goals, expectations, and responsibilities? How aligned are your career aspirations with your boss's vision and the organization's strategy? By answering these questions, you can gain a better understanding of the problem and its impact.

2 Talk to your boss

The next step is to talk to your boss and express your concerns and needs. Don't assume that your boss knows what you want or need, or that they don't care. Be respectful, honest, and constructive, and avoid blaming or accusing your boss. Focus on the facts, not the emotions, and use specific examples to illustrate your points. Explain how you feel about your current situation, what you hope to achieve in your career, and what kind of support and guidance you need from your boss. Ask for feedback on your work, suggestions for improvement, and opportunities for learning and growth. Listen to your boss's perspective and try to understand their challenges and constraints. Seek to establish a mutual agreement on how to work together more effectively and productively.

3 Seek alternative sources of learning

If talking to your boss doesn't result in any positive changes, or if you feel that your boss is unable or unwilling to provide you with the guidance and support you need, you may need to seek alternative sources of learning and development. For example, you can look for online courses, books, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, or webinars that cover the topics and skills you want to learn. You can also join online communities, forums, or networks of systems designers and exchange ideas, insights, and experiences with them. You can also find a mentor, coach, or peer who can offer you advice, feedback, and encouragement. You can also volunteer for projects, tasks, or roles that challenge you and allow you to apply and demonstrate your skills.

4 Evaluate your options

The final step is to evaluate your options and decide whether you want to stay or leave your current job. If you feel that you have exhausted all the possible ways to improve your situation, and that your boss is still holding you back from achieving your career goals, you may need to consider looking for a new job. However, before you make this decision, you should weigh the pros and cons of staying or leaving, and be realistic about the risks and rewards of each option. You should also prepare yourself for the transition and update your resume, portfolio, and network. On the other hand, if you feel that you can still make the most of your current job, and that your boss is not a deal-breaker, you may decide to stay and continue to pursue your career development on your own terms.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?