What do you do if your IT Strategy career is at a standstill?

Identify the main factors holding you back, both external (slow market, rigid organization, lack of support) and internal (skills gap, low motivation, lack of confidence). Be honest with yourself and use tools like SWOT analysis, feedback surveys, or career coaching to gain clarity. Understanding the root causes of your career stagnation is the first step in developing a plan to overcome obstacles and regain momentum in your professional journey.

To assess your situation, it's crucial to conduct a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of your career in IT strategy. This methodology, in fact, aided me in my professional transition. Identify your strengths, such as your technical skills and experience, as well as potential weaknesses, like skill gaps or areas where you may lack confidence. Next, explore market opportunities, such as additional certifications or emerging technology fields, and potential threats, such as automation or outsourcing of IT services. By understanding these aspects, you can develop a strategy to overcome obstacles and advance your career.

IT strategy is a dynamic field that requires continuous learning and adaptation. Stay relevant by taking online courses, attending webinars, reading industry publications, joining professional networks, and pursuing certifications. Seek feedback from managers, mentors, or peers to identify areas for skill improvement or acquisition. By consistently investing in your professional development, you can bridge skill gaps, remain competitive, and position yourself for new opportunities in your IT strategy career.

If your IT Strategy career is at a standstill, it is likely due to your low risk tolerance. Strategy, by its very nature is a PIONEERING role. Its an attempt to thoroughly understand the marketspace, and "read between the lines" to predict the various future possibilities, for the business and the competitors. Your job is to rank those possibilities and ultimately recommend a path forward, without any real absolute understanding of success. This is, by definition, a certain risk. The standstill you are feeling is you not taking enough risks, and therefore not achieving potential rewards, gaining the street cred required for movement upwards or outwards.

One approach that I find particularly interesting, as I have used it myself to revitalize your career in IT strategy, is to explore new technologies and related fields. For example, if you specialize in database management, you could consider learning about the latest trends in artificial intelligence or cybersecurity. By expanding your skills into emerging domains, you position yourself for growth and innovation opportunities. This can also help you anticipate market shifts and remain relevant in a constantly evolving technological landscape. By investing in your professional development in this way, you can energize your career and open new doors to exciting roles and projects.

***Tenha um projetinho para chamar de seu*** Utilizei seu tempo para resolver um problema, mesmo que pequeno, utilize aquelas horinhas que você está em casa sem fazer nada..... Siga essa receitinha: - Pesquise algo - Crie algo - Jogue fora se precisar, está tudo bem..... - Pare e planeje o que você ira fazer depois quando estiver com esse tempo livre de novo Sabe o que é o mais legal??? Eu respondo: N?o siga a ordem dessa receita

Lessons learned about "failing-in" on purpose - “Edison’s experiments had run up to over ten thousand, but he had discovered the missing link in the combination sought for.” Excerpt From Edison Frank Lewis Dyer & Thomas Commerford Martin

Challenge the status quo (given your position allows it). Break something. And by breaking something I mean do something to move your organization's culture in the right direction. That will create some healthy noise, and if the organization is ready for that, you will have created yourself a growth OPPORTUNITY. If you only find resistance and zero room for movement, then perhaps you need to begin searching for opportunities somewhere else.