5 Roadblocks Holding You Back in Your Mid-Career Journey

Majority of the mid-career professionals are stuck / feeling stuck in the mid career journey.

Having traveled this journey myself, faced challenges and after discussions with over 1500 professionals, here are the most common reasons of stagnancy:

1?? Comfort Zone

Mid-career professionals often become complacent in their roles, settling into a comfortable routine.

The most common signs of Comfort Zone are:

?? working hard with no up - skilling

?? being busy always

??no failures, No new challenges

??being ignorant of the external world

This reluctance to embrace change and explore unfamiliar territories is leading to stagnation in career.

2?? Skills Stagnancy

With the rapid pace of technological advancement and evolving industry trends, it's crucial for mid-career professionals to continually update and expand their skill sets.

However, some individuals may become complacent with their existing skills, failing to invest in lifelong learning and professional development. As a result, they risk falling behind their peers and becoming less competitive in the job market.

This happens due to

?? working in the same profile for long

?? not investing in self growth.

?? believing that skills come with certificates ?? (do you resonate with this)

3?? Mindset

The top 3 mindset issues that leads to stagnancy:

??Reacting only when situation worsens

The action begins only when the increment is not as expected, you do not get the promotion you were promised, your friend takes a big leap ??

?? Competition and Comparison

Setting the bench mark with respect to others' achievements leads to underperformance, stress and frustration.

?? No clarity

Running without setting goals. No idea about what should be your next step, how the industry is disrupting. This leads to a continuous race without outcomes.

This lack of clarity can lead to indecision, missed opportunities, and ultimately, stagnation in their career journey.

Remember, wish such an attitude, you are allowing others to drive your journey, you are not in-charge

4?? Lack of Network

Networking is a cornerstone of career advancement, providing opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and access to new opportunities.

When I say this, I mean networking beyond friends, beyond ex-colleagues, ex-managers. This networking is more with industry leaders, influencers who can guide you, support you in your journey.

Lack of network leads to more struggles in the mid-career journey, it increases your dependence on the existing set of people (your manager)

5?? Missing Soft Skills

While technical expertise is essential, soft skills such as communication, leadership, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are equally crucial for career success. Mid-career professionals who lack strong soft skills may struggle to effectively collaborate with colleagues, lead teams, or navigate interpersonal dynamics in the workplace.

As a result, they may find themselves overlooked for leadership roles or unable to advance their careers despite their technical proficiency. Investing in the development of soft skills is essential for overcoming this barrier to career growth.

Shelf life of Technical skills is diminishing whereas the Shelf life of Soft skills is increasing

The mid-career journey is a critical phase of your life.

The:

?? Responsibilities increase

?? Adaptability decrease

?? Impatience increase

?? Opportunities decrease

?? Expectations increase

?? Risk appetite decrease

Start having a structured approach to navigate thru the Mid-Career journey else you'll reach a dead-end soon

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