Clarity is a B***h! Ready for Change? The Courageous Executive’s Guide to Embracing Professional Uncertainty

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Are you a senior leader grappling with the nagging feeling that it’s time for a change—but unsure how to move forward without risking it all?

At the senior levels of leadership, clarity requires a particular kind of courage—one that executives don’t talk about often.

It’s not just about making decisions for the company or solving complex problems.

This time, the decision is personal --> you.?

Imagine you’re standing on the familiar land of your current role—a role you’ve grown into, with its predictable ups and downs.

Ahead of you stands a bridge - leading to a new land.

Standing at the edge of that bridge, the choice is clear: you can wait, hoping for conditions to improve—or you can take the first step, trusting in your ability to build something better on the other side.

You don’t know exactly what’s on the other side, but you sense it’s calling you. It’s unfamiliar, yes, but you also know it’s where you need to go next.

Crossing that bridge means leaving behind the comfort of what you know: roles you’ve mastered, systems you've navigated, and people whose patterns— for better or worse—have become predictable.

But, staying too long brings consequences.?

• Recent studies show that burnout and exhaustion affect up to 77% of private sector leaders, significantly impacting their ability to lead effectively. Every year you stay in a role that doesn’t align with your values or energize you is a year of missed opportunities to lead with impact, inspire your team, and feel fulfilled. The true risk isn’t change—it’s staying where you are.
• Not surprisingly, 51% of senior leaders consider stepping back or leaving their roles, with many citing mental stress as a primary driver (Deloitte).

High performers are frustrated from not having the support or influence to drive meaningful change within their organizations. Feeling stuck in roles where systems or projects stagnate saps energy, leads to mental fatigue, strained relationships, and stress-related health issues.

When you’ve been “bumping along” for too long—caught between discomfort and the comfort of what’s familiar—you start negotiating with yourself:

“If I just stick it out a few more years, I can retire,” or

“It’s the same everywhere else, so why bother making a change?”

This inner dialogue buys time, but it delays the inevitable: facing the clarity that’s been waiting in the wings.?

--> The truth is, clarity can feel terrifying.?

When you finally admit what you really want, you also admit things will need to change—and that’s where courage comes in.

Courage to Confront the Unknown

At the executive level, moving towards clarity can feel like staring down old fears.

For those who have been in roles for 15 or more years, clarity demands confronting not just professional uncertainty but also deep-seated personal fears—the kind that only emerge when the stakes involve your own sense of hope and future, not just the company’s.

Crossing that bridge requires walking alone—single file, step by step.

I can support you from the sidelines with strategy and reminders of your strengths, but only you can take each step forward. And stepping forward requires trusting that something better is waiting, even though you don’t know exactly what it looks like yet.?

Trust Your Executive Instincts

Studies suggest that executive leaders who rely on intuition and emotional resilience are more effective in decision-making, even under pressure (McKinsey).

The same skills that enable you to navigate complex business challenges are the ones you need to draw upon now.

You’ve taken risks before—you wouldn’t have reached this level without them. This moment is about trusting yourself to take aligned, thoughtful risks again, but this time for you, not just the organization.

Clarity requires courage on two levels.?

1) Courage to acknowledge the truth:

• It might be time to leave.
• You know what you want—and you fear it might not exist, or you might fail.

2) Courage to act:

• Creating a strategy and moving toward what you want demands more than logic—it requires faith in your ability to build something new, even when the path isn’t entirely clear.
• The temptation to stay where it’s “safe” will always be there. But real security comes from alignment—choosing what’s right for you and pursuing it with intention.

In my experience, most senior leaders don’t fail because they take the wrong risks; they fail because they stop taking them. Staying in the wrong place, negotiating with yourself to “stick it out,” only prolongs the inevitable and lowers self-trust and confidence.?

Clarity may be a tough companion, but it’s also your friend.

It reminds you of who you are and where you belong—and gives you the courage to continue taking steps in that direction.

Here are three practical steps to move forward with clarity and courage. You’ve taken bold steps before. Now, it’s time to trust yourself to take one that’s just for you.

3 Practical Steps to Move Forward with Clarity & Courage

There’s no way around it… you have to make time to sit and listen to yourself if you’re going to find your way out and through.

The following steps are designed to give you a starting place, and a reminder of your value.?

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Values and Goals

• Take time to reflect deeply on what you want next in your career.
• Focus on aligning your goals with your values to ensure they resonate with who you are.

Action: Write down three specific values that matter most to you in a leadership role. Then, reflect on how your current role supports—or fails to support—those values. Use this clarity as your compass to evaluate future opportunities.

Step 2: Rebuild Confidence by Mining Success Stories

• Look back on key professional wins. Identify the skills you used, the impact you had, and what energized you. Recall your role in the success - what you were acknowledged for, as well as what you weren’t acknowledged for.?
• Notice how those skills align with what excites you today—this intersection is where your strengths and values meet.

Action: Revisit three standout career moments where you exceeded expectations. Write down the measurable impact you had—like revenue growth, operational improvements, or team development—and note any recurring themes that point to your unique leadership value.

Step 3: Leverage Strategic Action—Not Just Tactical Moves

• Start to re-engage your network strategically—not just to explore opportunities but to test ideas, gain insights, and validate your direction.
• Talk to trusted peers, mentors, or industry contacts about trends, challenges, and opportunities they’re seeing in their space. This helps you identify where your skills and interests can make an impact.

Action: Schedule two strategic conversations this month with trusted colleagues or mentors who have navigated similar transitions. Focus on discussing shared challenges and explore trends they’re seeing in the market. Ask where they see your strengths fitting into emerging opportunities, and listen for patterns or areas where your skills could add value. Use these insights to refine your direction and identify actionable next steps.

Clarity may be tough, but it’s the first step to your next breakthrough. Don’t let another month slip by in a role that drains you. Book a call today to start crafting the career you’ve been waiting for.

If you're a senior leader and deep down know it’s time to find out if you can advance where you are - or make a change, I’d love to meet you. Let’s see if my Career Clarity Catalyst program can help. Schedule your strategy call here .

About Clara

Clara Chorley is the founder of Clarity Unlimited and an Executive Career Coach. She helps successful senior leaders pivot their careers towards what they really want and advance confidently into opportunities they’re excited about. Work where they shine, are compensated well, and have the autonomy and buy-in to succeed - while taking care of themselves and honoring the relationships that matter most.

For more than 15 years, Clara has helped leaders from a variety of industries - including technology, finance, energy, HR and healthcare - make exciting career upgrades that align with their values and priorities.

Her diverse international professional background and education, plus personal journey back from burnout means she deeply understands the business environment, strategy, psychology, pacing, and personalized approach required to see a great-fit professional change all the way through.

Clara is on a mission to empower our best business leaders to excel and be recognized for their contributions – to elevate more good people to positions of power and drive positive, sustainable change in workplace culture and overall organizational impact.

"If you're a senior leader wanting to get unstuck and advance some exciting professional goals, I’m here to help. Let’s get you back to your best self, and bring your professional dream to life!"

Connect with Clara on LinkedIn - read client testimonials

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