What do you do if your career is stagnant and you're not learning from failure?

1 Assess Reality

To break free from career stagnation, begin by conducting an honest self-assessment. Reflect on your current role and responsibilities. Are they aligned with your career aspirations? Sometimes, you might be overlooking opportunities for growth within your current position. Evaluate your skill set and determine if there are areas where you could improve or new competencies you could acquire. Acknowledge what hasn't worked in the past and why those strategies failed. This clarity is the first step in operational planning and sets the foundation for a strategic approach to career development.

2 Set Objectives

Once you've assessed your current career state, it's time to set clear, achievable objectives. Operational planning thrives on well-defined goals. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For instance, if you aim to enhance your leadership skills, set a goal to lead a project or mentor a team member within six months. By setting SMART goals, you create a roadmap for your career advancement and ensure that you have concrete milestones to strive for.

3 Develop Skills

In a stagnant career phase, developing new skills is vital. Identify the skills that are in demand within your industry and pursue training or certifications that can make you more competitive. This could involve taking online courses, attending workshops, or even seeking out a mentor. Operational planning is about resource allocation, so consider how you can efficiently allocate your time and energy to maximize your learning. By actively enhancing your skill set, you're not only making yourself more marketable but also preparing yourself to seize new opportunities.

4 Seek Feedback

Feedback is an invaluable tool for learning from failure and overcoming career stagnation. Reach out to colleagues, supervisors, or industry peers to gain insights into your performance and areas for improvement. Operational planning often involves reviewing processes and outcomes for efficiency, and similarly, you should review your career progress. Constructive criticism can help you adjust your approach and avoid repeating past mistakes. Remember, feedback is not just about hearing what you're doing wrong—it's about understanding how you can do things better.

5 Network Actively

Networking is a dynamic component of operational planning that can open doors to new opportunities and insights. Actively engage with professionals in your field through industry events, online forums, and professional associations. Networking isn't just about exchanging business cards; it's about building relationships that can provide support, advice, and potentially lead to job opportunities. By expanding your professional circle, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help propel your career forward.

6 Embrace Change

Lastly, embracing change is essential when your career feels stagnant. Operational planning often requires adapting to new circumstances and pivoting strategies accordingly. Be open to shifts in your industry, role changes, or even a career switch if it aligns with your long-term goals. Change can be daunting, but it's also an opportunity for growth and learning. By staying flexible and open-minded, you position yourself to take advantage of new paths that may arise from unexpected places.

7 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?