You’re feeling stuck in your career. How can you get unstuck?

When working with my clients who are feeling stuck, the first thing we do is assess why they are feeling stuck. We look at their day holistically, and pin point the tasks / actions that give them energy, versus drain their energy. We then do the math & work out what % of their working day energises them versus drains them. I wish for my clients to have at 60:40 ratio at the very minimum, but ideally aim for 70:30 (70% energises them, 30% drains them). Of course we are not going to love every single task, but the balance has to work in our favour.

When working with clients, one of the first questions I ask them is what is their career plan? For the next 2-3, 3-5 and 5-10 years. Chances are people feel stuck because they “fell” into jobs rather than intentionally choosing them. Career decision making and career planning are intentional critical thinking processes that help us explore who we are, what values are important to us and what industries interest us. Only by reflecting on ourselves and the world of work can we know what direction we want to take our careers. If we have been diligent in this process and are now feeling stuck we need to ask questions about what has changed? Was our company bought out? Has the corporate culture changed? Has our role changed?

Take stock. Completely. Where you are at in your career and its likely trajectory. What interests you? What do you know? Most importantly what interests you that you know more about than most people? I did this assessment over the course of a year. It takes time. I explored all sorts of entrepreneurial ideas before landing on a concept that took advantage of my education, experience and interests. I built a small biz from the ground up and took on all roles. It was tough but financially rewarding. Give yourself the gift of time for reflection.

Once you have assessed the situation, it is important to have a peer pov on it. Individual analysis sometimes can give a limited view of things. However, a feedback from your mentors, coach or trusted colleagues can help you navigate better. At this point, similar experiences and methods adopted by them can be very useful for you to decide on further steps.

There are tons of organizations and people that will help you in your pursuit. LinkedIn is a great platform to find like-minded people. Be bold and reach out. I get plenty of cold links. There are organizations that specialize in career coaching. It's worth doing if you are feeling stuck. In Canada, that includes Higher Landing. Check them out.

One of the KEY exercises I incorporate in my coaching programme is feedback on strengths from colleagues. There are TWO reasons why this is a GREAT exercise: 1. It helps you get an outsider view of what THEY perceive to be your great strengths. Often your strengths come so naturally to you that they're invisible to you. 'Doesn't everyone do that?' you think. And no, they don't. Except you don't realise that until someone else tells you. 2. Having someone tell you what they think your strengths are can give you a boost of confidence and new energy. Clients often start coaching saying 'Oh, and of course I don't have much confidence either'. I'm a strong believer that confidence follows action. This is a great start.

It is easy to get stuck in your career at any point due to various factors, most of which you can't even control. Especially if you prioritise money over everything. However, if you have a clear vision of where you want to be, it's possible to notice that you are not moving any closer towards your goal, this can help establish a plan of how to obtain the knowledge and skills required to get there. In most cases, you may need help from your superior's internally or you can even volunteer in a place that will provide you with the exposure and training you need to get to where you want. Most importantly, develop a mindset of continuous learning, self development and believe in incremental growth. There's help out there, just ask.

If you feel stuck in your career, there are a number of things you can do. First and foremost, step back and look at the bigger picture. Think of where you are at in your current life stage. Are you in the early, mid or latter stages of your career. Think of your career in a more wholesome way and how it fits into your overall life goals. Are you wanting to move ahead in your career, have more personal time or both? Then set your goals accordingly. One of the best ways to reflect on your career goals and find a new path forward is to meet with a career coach.

We get stuck in our careers because we don't want to leave our comfort zone. We get so engrossed in our daily routine that we forget or at times don't even explore our Ikigai. So the first step to get unstuck is find your Ikigai,find your purpose of life. Secondly break your mental barriers and come out of your comfort zone. To gain stability,you need to be unstabalize yourself first. Last but not the least,be positive in your approach as well as your mindset.

When feeling stuck, you still owe it to yourself (and your family) to be rational in any decisions you make regarding your career. Don't make any knee-jerk decisions that you may later regret. For instance, if a job change is in the cards, consider when and how you would like to resign from your current position, and if it makes sense to wait until you have another job offer in hand.