What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Your Career

The future depends on what you do today - Mahatma Gandhi

It is not uncommon for professionals at any stage of their career would feel stuck. Young professionals might feel stuck to the jobs that they do not feel passionate about. Seasoned professionals might feel stuck to the same jobs that they have been doing for years.

Quitting the job might sound to be the fastest solution, but in reality it is not always easy to do. There would always be reasons that stop people to quit their job although they feel stuck.

If you are in this situation, then you would need the 'FUEL' to move forward.

Find the root cause

Understand where you want to be

Explore for options to move forward

Leverage on your potential to progress

Find: The clarity about the root cause

First thing to do when you feel stuck in your career is to find out about the cause. It could be caused by:

• No career progression. You have stayed in the same job for years and you don't see any chance to progress in your career in the organisation anymore.
• Personal values misalignment. You always feel conflicted inside you when you perform your work. You know that what you are doing now is not aligned with your beliefs/values.
• Work-life imbalance. You have worked long hours and your work has consumed your life. Everything you think and talk about is your work. Your work has impacted on your physical and mental health. On the other hand, it could happen also that your personal life has impacted your focus on career progression.
• Lack of appreciation. You have been under appreciated, which is reflected in your compensation, title, etc.
• People you work with. Your boss is not supporting you. You have faced huge challenges in dealing with your boss. Your peers are not collaborative and supportive. You work in the 'toxic' environment.

Understand: The destination where you want to be

Once you find the root cause, then determine on your destination where you have desire to go. Your destination is not limited by your current skills/resources, but it would be based on your life purpose, passion and values. Your destination would be inspiring for you to pursue. The following questions would be helpful to open up your mind:

• If nothing is stopping you, who would you be?.
• What is the most important and meaningful thing to you in life?.
• If you could travel a time machine and meet your eighty-year old self, what would he say to you?.
• What would it look like when I have arrived at my destination?.

You would also want to determine on the specific time when to arrive at your destination. If you think that it is critical for you to get out from your current situation, then start to set your timer from now to then.

Explore: The options to bring you to your destination

To bring you to your destination, think of as many options as possible, for example:

• Stay at your organisation and take charge to change the situation towards the destination you desire. You might still believe in the organisation and your job is still aligned with your personal values. This option would help you to reframe your perspective on the situation. You move from the 'passenger' seat to the 'driver' seat. You take initiative to make improvements. For example, you talk to your boss about your career aspiration and ask for her support in your development.
• Stay at your organisation while preparing to jump to the new opportunity. You might have decided that your organisation is not the right place for you to pursue towards your destination, especially after you have tried out the first option and nothing has changed. You take control in planning and investing for your future. For example, you reassess and retrain your current capabilities to meet the requirements of the new opportunity.
• Quit from your job, take a break before focusing on the pathway towards your destination. You might consider this option especially if your physical and mental health have been impacted by your work. Health is non-negotiable and more than your work.

Leverage: The potential within you help you to progress

To realize your option, focus on your potential and leverage from there. Ask yourself these questions to start with:

• What superpower have I used to succeed in the past?.
• What superpower have I used to overcome my failures in the past?.
• How would I use my superpower to help me take action?.
• What support would I need to make myself accountable to the action?.

You don't have to look further, your potential is within you, waiting to be unleashed. It is your superpower.

Final Words

When you feel stuck in your career, it could be a sign for you take a step back and examine. Acknowledge the feeling and act on it. Unleash your full potential to enable yourself to realize your action. Life is precious, thus live without regrets.

Questions? Have any points that I missed?

Share below in the comments - I'd love to help and hear them!.

For further tips on Career and Leadership, please reach out to me for 30 minute free consultation.

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Setiawani is a Career and Leadership Coach, based in Perth. She holds ACC credential from International Coaching Federation. She helps professionals and leaders in unleashing their potentials to achieve their goals in career and life through coaching. Her experience as an HR Leader in multinational companies across various industries for more than 20 years has been added value to those that have been coached by her.

Find about her profile and follow her at linkedin.com/in/setiawani-sukri-coaching .