Overcome Career Blockers and Achieve Your Professional Goals
LMF NETWORK (Like Minded Females)
LMF Network is a Leading Strategic ESG & Inclusion Consultancy & Social Networking App -If LinkedIn & Bumble had a baby.
When they hear the term career blockers, most people will think of all those who tried to sabotage their careers in one way or another.
A colleague may try to pull you down or take credit for your work. Or it may be a manager who doesn’t acknowledge or appreciate your efforts and hard work and therefore fails to reward you through a promotion or salary increment. While these people fall under the category of career blockers, other aspects are less likely to be recognized and dealt with.
Some emotions and behaviours might be impacting your performance and hindering you from achieving your true potential and career goals, such as self-rejection and lack of clarity about your career path.
The first step to dealing with career blockers is to reflect on your situation and identify them.
While taking advice from other people gives you a fresh perspective, there are some questions you can best answer yourself.
If you feel stuck in a role or field, start by asking why. Sometimes it might not be the case of a career blocker at play at all. It might help to make a career map starting from where you are at the moment and where you want to be in the short and long term.
Next, brainstorm what is required for you to go from point A to point B on this map.
This might include upskilling yourself, including taking courses and training to position yourself for your next role or taking up a project in a function or department you’re aspiring for.
Once you have listed down all the requirements, you will be in a better position to evaluate if there is a mismatch in the requirements of the role and your abilities or other factors acting as roadblocks on your journey from point A to point B.
Schedule a meeting with your manager if you fulfil all the criteria needed to take the next logical step in your career. When preparing for this meeting, make a list of all your achievements in your role, be confident in what you have to offer and make an evidence-based case for why you’re eligible for the promotion or move.
Don’t downplay your abilities. Instead, take pride in everything you have put hard work into. This meeting might help you fill in the gaps if there are any or alternatively drive you in the right direction with the support and recommendation of your manager.
Another helpful way in which you can address the challenges in the way of your career progression is to educate yourself.
Despite having spent a lot of time in a role, we’re often unaware of the career trajectories within and outside the organisation. In fact, this is something that one should get clarity on during the hiring and application process.
The world is constantly evolving, and so are the available opportunities. It helps to keep oneself abreast of what is happening in the respective field and area of interest to capitalize on a potential opening.
And then ask for feedback.
Don’t wait for the end-of-year meeting to ask your manager for areas of improvement. Schedule periodic checkups to constantly receive feedback on your performance and evaluate opportunities for growth and success.
Feedback sessions shouldn’t be restricted to managers. It might help to set up discussions with peers and colleagues. These conversations are expected to be more casual and open, with much room for learning and a two-way flow of information.
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By asking for feedback, you can preempt things that might hamper your growth instead of finding out about them at the end of the year. An employee that actively wants to improve also makes a good impression on the employer.
While career blockers are part and parcel of one’s career, we can use them to our advantage by changing our mindset towards them and treating them as opportunities for learning and growth rather than challenges.
Feelings of frustration and anger are natural emotions, especially when one puts in the work and hours in their respective field and doesn’t get the expected outcome per the predicted timeline.
However, if you continue with dedication and consistency, you will achieve all your ambitions and more. It might take longer, and you might end up taking a detour or two, but you will eventually get there.
And while most of our discussion has been around encountering career blockers, let’s also remember and make sure that we don’t become blockers but rather support and uplift others.
At LMF NETWORK (Like Minded Females) , we understand that navigating your career can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when faced with career blockers. That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for mentorship, upskilling opportunities, or guidance to map out your career journey, our community and resources are designed to help you overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve your professional goals.
Let’s grow together and build a future where your potential knows no limits. Good luck!
This blog contribution was made by Aleena Ahmad.
Aleena is a graduate in Electrical Engineering and currently working as a Market Analyst. She loves to read books; is obsessed with political non-fiction, finds baking therapeutic, and likes to start her day with yoga. Aleena believes writing is the best way to articulate one’s thoughts and start a conversation. She feels passionately about women empowerment initiatives and is always looking for opportunities to contribute.
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The LMF Network is an?education careers platform bridging skills and the gender gap.?In just five years, we’ve worked with 100s of companies on policy and people development worldwide, launched the UK's largest mentorship programme with a 90% goal success rate, and built a knowledge and networking platform where individuals can find friends, have career conversations, learn from e-courses, and connect with mentors. We’ve been the foundation of the book Unprepared to Entrepreneur?and shared our mission on international stages. Our community trust us to support their development needs, build their confidence and align ourselves with trusted, inclusive partners who can nurture and grow talent to progress in their careers. We’ve upskilled 20,000 people in 3 years — we know what we are fighting for and need your help to make it happen.