You're feeling stuck in your career. How can you find the right path forward?

It's perfectly normal to feel stuck in your career at times. Do you have your own personal vision and mission? If not, it’s never too late to establish one. Having your own personal vision will help guide you throughout your journey. If you feel stuck in your current career, take the time to identify your ideal career path. Connect with people in the organizations you want to join and ask for mentorship. Another effective approach is to educate yourself with new skills and techniques.

It's important not to rush through this first step. If you're feeling stuck in your career and unclear on how to move forward, self-reflection is essential. Check back in with your values - are you out of line with them? What makes you feel fulfilled at work - and therefore what's missing in your current role? And spend some time digging into what's behind feeling stuck. Is it frustration with lack of progression? Something missing in your job content? Unhappy with the organisation? This will give you crucial information about what change to make.

As a career Clarity Coach, my first advice to my coaches is to spend time understanding why they feel stuck. Identifying the root cause of the discontent can help clarify what changes are needed. They truly should spend time assessing their purpose and goals. What they enjoy doing, what their skills are, and what they value most in work and life. Define what success looks like for them in both the short term and the long term. Setting goals gives direction and helps measure progress. Planning is also very important. Develop a detailed action plan with a clear understanding of where they want to go and the steps they need to take to get there. This plan should include timelines, milestones, and any resources they’ll need along the way.

Do a current state assessment about where you are now. Understanding what got you here is a good starting point for exploring if you are stuck in your career. Identifying habits, strengths, and values and taking concrete action to reach the goal will help you get unstuck.

I strongly believe that by taking a step back and considering aspects such as current job satisfaction, skill development, and alignment with personal goals, we get clarity on our professional standing. This introspection helps identify areas for improvement, potential growth opportunities, and the need for change. It is not a big deal as at times we feel stuck so need to evaluate our situation it authorises us to make informed decisions, whether it involves acquiring new skills, seeking mentorship, exploring different career paths, or pursuing additional education. This self-awareness guides us toward the right path forward.

Sometimes feeling stuck in your career is like refereed pain-you are in fact stuck somewhere and are assuming that it is your career. Step one is to do an audit of your life to see where the 'stuckness' is located. This step can be done by you but working with a trusted someone who can bring an objective lense to your situation. If the issue continues to be identified as work, then you have several choices. I always recommend looking within and without simultaneously- is there a chance of change within the organisation /situation you are in? How could you move the dial? Now? Who could help you? What are the opportunities outside the organisation/situation? Triage how can you explore these opportunities and who could help you.

Take a pause and try to see things from a different perspective! Practice new hobbies like painting, dancing or maybe a new sport that brings you a different kind of energy! Talk about it with the people you love, get inspired by others peoples experience and take it one step at a time 💚

Self-Reflection: Take time for introspection to identify your strengths, interests, and values. Clarifying what truly matters to you can guide you towards a more fulfilling career path. Skill Assessment: Evaluate your current skill set and identify areas for improvement or acquisition of new skills. This can open up new opportunities and enhance your qualifications for the desired career path. Networking and Mentorship: Connect with professionals in your desired field, seek mentorship, and attend industry events to gain insights. Networking can provide valuable advice and potentially lead to opportunities that align with your career aspirations.

One activity that most of my clients help in such a situation is the "100th Birthday Speech". I encourage them to imagine that they're 100 years old and there is a birthday party. Someone who is dear to them gives a speech about their life. What would that person say? I ask the client to select a person who would give such speech and then to write it as if they were that person. It provides insights into what's really important to them in life, their vision and purpose. A great place to start rethinking one's career.

In the VUCA world we live in, very few (imo) are not feeling stuck! I would invite my clients to use the IKIGAI map to identify gaps. By doing so, the exercise becomes objective and propels them forward.

Before exploring your options, start with the end in mind. If you are looking for a job without being clear on your desired outcome, you will end up settling for less. So fast forward 6 or 12 months from now in your mind, where are you working? Who are you working with? How do you feel? What are you doing? What impact are you making? Then you can go backwards and understand the specific actions you need to take to achieve your desired outcome. Now your options are going to be more aligned with what you actually want.

I use human design as a blend of science and ancient wisdom to share the insights to who you are in your most authentic self. Using the data provided I interpret the energy body graph that goes as deep as what your unique gifts are, how to use them, who to serve and how to make decisions. In the past I relied on personality archetypes such as Myers briggs or DISC but I've found focusing on how humans are designed and studied for thousands of years has given so much more clarity to purpose and how to use your energy more efficiently.

Go through an intentional exploratory phase. Give yourself time to listen to your gut and reason out your options before making a decision. We often are so eager to get to a decision that we shortchange this important phase.

As you make your plan, consider the barriers, hurdles and gaps that might prevent you from achieving success. Barriers are those things that will get in your way and you, alone, cannot overcome. Consider who or what might be able to help you get past the barriers. Hurdles are those things that you can overcome, but it will not be easy. Figure out how to make it as easy as you can, but be prepared for the challenge and don't be disheartened when it comes. Gaps are things that you lack. Make another list of all of these things, such as resources, information, or skills, and start figuring out how to obtain these things. Don't forget to set milestone celebrations along the way.

Make sure to master emotional self-regulation when implementing your plan. You will face challenges, you will face rejections, you will feel tired and giving up, and you will feel stuck and stagnant. It is the everyday process of showing up, the discipline to be committed to your desired outcome, and the grit and perseverance that separates those who get a job and those who are building their career.

Stay persistent and resilient in the face of challenges, and remain open to learning and growth opportunities along the way. By taking action and staying focused on your goals, you can move forward confidently in your career journey.

Look for diverse peer groups, strategic networks, and masterminds aligned with your values and vision. Also, career sponsors can offer tremendous support.

Take a step back and assess whether your values and what is important to you has evolved over time. This may reveal whether there is a gap in your current role and whether the role is serving you in ways that you want to grow in. If the answer is no, the next step is to assess your strengths and abilities to explore other career paths that can enable you to fully express them and realize your full potential. Last but not least, deal with any self limiting beliefs that might hold you back from making a change and envision what success could look like.

A deep dive into the probable reasons for being stuck in career could be the first step in identifying the path/ direction to pursue. One of the exercise I do with my clients is to engage them in 1. identifying what are they losing out on because of being stuck, and this puts them in a frame of mind to think about their long-term goal and whether their current state is taking them any closer to that goal. 2. whether the reasons are (a). internal or external, and (b). within scope of control or outside. This helps in identifying the necessary adjustments to be made in terms of mindset, attitude, competence or approach (to deal with certain situations).

In navigating career stagnation, remember: every challenge is a stepping stone to growth. Beyond assessing, planning, and seeking support, consider the power of networking and continuous learning. Engage with mentors, attend industry events, and embrace new skills. Your next breakthrough might just be a conversation or a course away. Let curiosity lead your career path forward.

When a client is feeling stuck and unfulfilled, it's a pretty clear sign that they're not using their natural skills and strengths to their full capacity. When you know what your strengths are, you know what your differentiator is. When you know that, you know where you'll shine.

When you are stuck a way out is not always easy as a lot of voices in your head will tell you: - "You are too old for this" - "You are wasting your degree and expertise" - "No one will employ you" - "You'll start at the bottom and you have a family and a mortgage to take care of" These are the voices - and lies - of your saboteurs which are keeping you stuck instead of supporting you moving forward. Assessing what are your saboteurs is the first step. Recognising them when they come into play is the second step. Silencing your saboteurs is possible so that the real you can finally see what's best for your and your career

When feeling stuck in your career, the key to finding the right path forward lies in reconnecting with yourself. Introspection is a powerful tool for clarity, direction, and personal fulfillment on your career path. So, take a journey inward to rediscover your passions, values, and aspirations. Reflect on what truly ignites your soul and aligns with your authentic self. What you can call “Your Worthy Ideal.” You will uncover hidden opportunities and possibilities that resonate with your true essence. Don't always look for external validation or societal expectations, but honor your unique journey and purpose.