Repositioning Your Career: Navigating Change with Adaptability and Strategic Planning

Introduction:

In today's rapidly changing world, career disruptions are ever more common among professionals. Whether political shifts, organisational changes, or global events like the recent #USAID cuts or #BREXIT, people increasingly face career transitions that feel entirely out of their control.

I know this feeling firsthand. In 2016, after Brexit changed my career trajectory within the European Union missions, I woke up one morning to a future that I hadn’t planned for. In 48 hours, everything I had worked for vanished. It wasn’t because of poor performance or lack of skills—it was simply a political decision I had no control over.

But here’s the thing: Your career is not defined by the job you lose. It’s characterised by how you adapt, reposition, and take control of your future. Career shifts are a catalyst for reinvention—not a setback, but a chance to create something more meaningful and aligned with your core strengths.

The Pace Of Change:

The rapid pace of change today is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Technological advances, global economic shifts, and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping industries at an unprecedented rate. Every part of our professional lives is being affected. The way we work, the kinds of jobs available, and the skills required to succeed are all evolving.

What’s happening now isn’t just a temporary blip—it’s a fundamental shift that’s accelerating. I’ve long argued that the pace of change is exponential, and it’s becoming clear that career disruption isn’t just a possibility—it’s becoming a regular part of the professional landscape.

Take the recent USAID layoffs, for example. The political decision to cut jobs created a ripple effect that affected those directly employed by the agency and those working in sectors or influenced by USAID projects. The job cuts weren’t a reflection of poor performance or lack of ability. They were simply part of a larger geopolitical and economic shift over which professionals had little control over.

But this is not just an isolated incident. It’s a symptom of the broader trend in today’s world: change is constant, and it’s only accelerating. As you read this, this moment is the slowest pace of change. You will know for the rest of your lives.

By the time you've finished reading this, the pace of change will already have accelerated!

With this level of change in mind, it’s clear that career repositioning has become not just important but essential. If your career path is built on predictable roles, secure positions, or traditional industries, you will likely face more disruption in the coming years. The roles and career paths of the future will not look the same as those of the past.

How to Respond and Prepare?

So, what does this mean for professionals who are ready to reposition their careers in a rapidly changing world?

First, it means that adapting to change is no longer optional. Those who succeed in the coming years will be the ones who embrace new opportunities, reframe their skills, and seize new paths with confidence. But career repositioning is not an overnight fix—it’s an ongoing journey that requires a strategic mindset, a growth-oriented attitude, and proactive planning.

Now, if you’re asking, 'How do I start repositioning my career?'—here’s a step-by-step process you can follow:

1. Identify What Energises You

The first step in repositioning your career is to get clear on what truly energises you. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget what really drives you, but this is the foundation for creating a career that thrives.

To help with this, I guide my clients through a simple exercise with three columns and one row:

Column 1: What Energises You These are the activities—at work and in personal life—that give you energy. For example, some might be energised by stakeholder management and engaging with others, while others may find energy in quiet reflection by a river. I love singing in the shower and karaoke, activities that feel light and fun, but they reflect my need for moments of joy and creativity, I also love stakeholder management and problem-solving.

Column 2: Your Skills What are you skilled at? What qualifications or experience do you have? This could be something you have credentials for or something you’ve mastered through experience. Project planning is one of my skills—something I’m qualified for and have done for decades, but it’s not what energises me. However, when I drill down to aspects of project planning, like stakeholder management, planning, problem-solving, etc... these do energise me so these areas would go into column one and column two. The minutia, the dotting of the 'i', the crossing of the 't', the admin? That would go in the row below, and I'll explain why shortly.

Column 3: Your Innate Skills These are the things you do naturally that others struggle with. You may find them easy and even obvious, and others often come to you for advice or guidance because you do it without thinking, even though it's not your role. For me, coaching, career planning, and interview preparation are innate skills. These are skills I have developed in hounded over time because I enjoy them, and also large elements of them come naturally to me. However, I only realised their value once others started seeking my help in these areas and told me post-Brexit that it's something I should consider doing professionally. It was a real lightbulb moment.

The Row Below: This is just as important as the three columns above because it highlights what drains you. The tasks that are necessary but don’t energise you. This is where the admin goes for me; the admin is something that never energises me. It's the stuff we have to do; we have to get on with it, but I do not enjoy it. It does not bring me joy! For some others, the admin is totally in the first column, and it wouldn't come anywhere near the row below, but they also don't enjoy the stuff I enjoy, and that's all part of building great teams. For me, project management, in general, is in my second column—I’m skilled at it and qualified—but the administrative details, like dotting the 'i' and crossing the 't', fall into the 'drains you' row. It’s necessary but doesn’t energise me.

Understanding where you thrive and where you don’t allows you to align your career with the roles that best fit you.

The key takeaway here is:

Career repositioning is about leveraging the skills and activities that energise you while managing the tasks that drain you.

3. Network Strategically

Your network is one of your most powerful tools when repositioning your career. Strategic networking means connecting with people who align with your next career chapter—not just the job you're in now but the future you want to create.

Networking isn't just about finding opportunities for your current role; it’s about building relationships to help you in the next career phase. To do this, you must first identify the type of future you want. Are you looking to move into a leadership position? Shift industries? Or expand your impact in your current sector? Once you have a clear picture of your future goals, you can begin to identify the people whose network you could leverage for your benefit.

One of my recent clients got a six-figure contract by networking alone!

Seek out connections who are already where you want to be or are working in areas that align with your aspirations. This could include former colleagues, industry professionals, mentors, or even people you admire in your field. Don’t just network with those who can offer immediate opportunities—network with those who can open doors for the long-term, who share your vision, and who can introduce you to key players in your future path.

By building a network that shares your values and career objectives, you’ll be better positioned to find the roles and opportunities that align with your future ambitions. It’s not just about who you know but about who they know—and how their connections can help propel you forward.

It's also about strategically removing yourself from the people holding you back!

4. Leverage Your Experience

Your experience is your greatest asset. The knowledge you’ve gained over the years—whether through hard-earned lessons or professional expertise—can be applied in new industries and roles. The key is to look beyond your current role and consider how your skills can be transferred to other sectors.

Consider industries or roles that could benefit from your skills, even if they are outside your current scope. For instance, someone with experience in international development could bring their knowledge into corporate social responsibility, non-profit leadership, or policy advocacy.

5. Embrace Lifelong Learning

The world of work is evolving faster than ever, and with AI and automation taking over predictable and repeatable tasks, the value of human skills has never been more critical. To remain competitive, professionals must embrace lifelong learning, ensuring they are adapting, growing, and evolving continuously.

We are now in a time where AI can do anything structured, repetitive, and rules-based more efficiently than humans. That means the skills that set people apart—problem-solving, emotional intelligence, leadership, and creativity—must come to the forefront. The ability to navigate uncertainty, think critically, and apply human judgment is what will define career success in the years ahead.

To successfully reposition your career and future-proof yourself, you need to develop a strong Adaptability Quotient (AQ)—your ability to adjust, learn, and thrive in evolving environments. AQ is now as important as IQ and EQ.

The AQai framework identifies three core domains of adaptability, which provide a structured way to assess and develop the skills necessary to remain resilient and relevant in an era of rapid change.

The Three Domains of Adaptability (AQai Framework)

To build lifelong learning into your career strategy, focus on developing AQ across these three domains:

Ability – How and to What Degree Do You Adapt?

This domain focuses on your capacity to respond effectively to change—how quickly and efficiently you absorb new information, apply skills, and modify your approach.

Key sub-domains include:

? Grit – The determination to push through challenges and uncertainty.

? Mental Flexibility – The ability to see different perspectives and change thinking patterns when needed.

? Mindset – Whether you view challenges as threats or opportunities.

? Resilience – How well you recover from setbacks.

? Unlearning & Relearning – The willingness to let go of outdated knowledge and acquire new skills.

?? How to develop this:

• Seek out opportunities that challenge you—volunteer for cross-functional projects or explore industries outside your comfort zone.
• Train yourself to unlearn and relearn by questioning assumptions and staying open to new ways of thinking.
• View obstacles as learning moments rather than setbacks.

As Brené Brown says: "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome."

2. Character – Who Adapts and Why?

Character focuses on what motivates you to adapt and how you approach change. Some people embrace uncertainty, while others resist it. Those who thrive in shifting environments have cultivated a mindset that sees uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Key sub-domains include:

? Hope – The belief that the future holds opportunities rather than obstacles.

? Emotional Range – The ability to regulate emotions during change.

? Extraversion – How social engagement impacts adaptability.

? Motivation Style – Whether you are intrinsically (internally) or extrinsically (externally) driven.

? Thinking Style – Your preference for analytical vs. intuitive decision-making.

?? How to develop this:

• Build emotional resilience by exposing yourself to small challenges that stretch your capacity for change.
• Increase self-awareness about how your thinking patterns impact your reactions to uncertainty.
• Shift your mindset toward seeing change as a doorway to new possibilities rather than a roadblock.

Mel Robbins reminds us: "You are one decision away from a totally different life."

3. Environment – When and to What Degree Do You Adapt?

Your ability to adapt isn’t just about you—your external environment, including your workplace, support systems, and industry trends, also shapes it.

Key sub-domains include:

? Company Support – Whether your organization promotes learning and adaptability.

? Emotional Health – Your ability to manage stress during transitions.

? Team Support – Having a network that encourages adaptability.

? Work Environment – How the culture of your industry or organization influences adaptability.

? Work Stress – The pressures that either fuel or inhibit adaptability.

?? How to develop this:

• Surround yourself with people who challenge and support your growth.
• If your work environment does not encourage adaptability, seek out mentors or professional networks that do.
• Be proactive in understanding industry shifts to anticipate and prepare for future career changes.

Abraham Lincoln said it best: "The best way to predict the future is to create it."

Adaptability in Action – The Skills That Set Humans Apart from AI

In a world where AI will handle predictable and structured tasks, your ability to adapt, think critically, and lead with emotional intelligence will define your career success.

To future-proof yourself, invest in human-centric skills that machines cannot replace:

?? Complex Problem-Solving – AI can analyze data, but it lacks human intuition and judgment.

?? Critical Thinking – The ability to question, interpret, and make nuanced decisions.

?? Creativity & Innovation – AI can assist in generating ideas, but humans create new possibilities.

?? Emotional Intelligence & Leadership – AI lacks empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to inspire and lead teams.

?? Ethical Decision-Making – Human ethical reasoning is critical in a world driven by data.

?? How to develop this:

• Take on leadership opportunities, even in small projects.
• Develop your ability to make quick decisions in uncertain environments.
• Prioritise creativity, innovation, and collaboration in your professional development.

Bill Gates famously said: "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years."

The Future Belongs to the Adaptable

The world is changing faster than ever, and those who thrive will be those who embrace lifelong learning, cultivate adaptability, and proactively develop their skills. AI isn’t replacing human potential—it’s shifting the landscape. Your career success depends on your ability to pivot, innovate, and grow continuously.

To reposition your career successfully, commit to ongoing learning, networking, and skills development.

Your future career success won’t be based on what you already know but on how quickly and effectively you can adapt to what comes next.

So, what step will you take today to build your Adaptability Quotient (AQ) and take control of your future? ??

Good luck—you’ve got this!

About the Author

Martin Cunningham is a seasoned career coach known for his transformative work across various sectors, including law, governance, and sustainable development. With extensive experience collaborating with multilateral organisations at Ministerial and General Director levels in Afghanistan and the Western Balkans, Martin has a proven track record of driving impactful change. His coaching approach, grounded in neuroscience and adaptability, empowers young professionals to navigate complex careers.

Initially focusing on security and justice, Martin’s advocacy for women has broadened to support their roles across all Sustainable Development Goals, helping them to break barriers and thrive. For more resources and insights, explore his

LinkedIn profile,

YouTube channel,

website.