You’re the reason you’re stagnant in your career. Awks.

It can be awkward to admit however sometimes we are the reason we feel stuck in our career.

Ouch, it hurts to say out loud but when you have the awareness you are able to focus on changing it. 

We can try and blame it on everything else external to us but the reality is that there’s often some overlooked reasons behind that career stagnation that is holding you back. 

There’s often overlooked reasons behind that career stagnation that might be holding you back so let’s further understand where you might be going wrong and how you can approach it differently moving forward. 

You're too comfortable in your comfort zone 

While it might be cosy in your comfort zone, if you stay there too long it leads to complacency and limits your exposure to new experiences, stretch assignments, challenges and opportunities. Cue feeling stagnant in your career. 

We’re human so naturally we seek safety, however when that same safety starts to stop your progress in its tracks and keeps us where we are, we need to start to consider whether it is in our best interest. 

Challenge yourself to embrace discomfort, it will help you to expand your professional horizons. Take on a stretch project, learn a new skill outside your area of expertise, present to a larger audience or apply for that role you’re ready for but have been avoiding applying for. 

Set yourself stretch goals that push your abilities and go beyond what you’ve previously achieved. Make them challenging but achievable with effort and commitment.  This helps to foster continuous growth and pushes you out of your comfort zone. 

You’re not evolving your skills to keep up with the times

You might be really great at your job right now but with technology advances, industries evolving and new ways of doing things emerging - your abilities will likely be losing relevance and sadly just won’t be able to keep up with the times. 

Let’s also address the elephant in the room, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

AI is next level and something we are only scratching the surface on, this means that there is a risk of becoming obsolete as technological advancements and changing market demands arise. 

If you don’t evolve your skills, you reduce your ability for job opportunities, find yourself with no competitive edge and there will be a disconnect between your capabilities and the evolving needs of your role as you know it. 

Start by conducting a skills audit, assess your current skill set and compare it to the requirements of the industry you are in. Be honest with yourself to identify the areas where you currently excel, recognise the skills that you need to enhance or completely transform and take it one step further to assess how the skills currently required in your role might change with the introduction of AI.

Then commit to taking action and embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Seek mentorship from people who have done what you want to do and start applying your new skills in practical scenarios so you can position yourself not only to stay relevant but to be a leader in your field.

You shouldn’t just avoid burnout for your wellbeing

As you relentlessly go after success in your career, unknowingly you can find yourself on the edge of burnout.
It’s interesting how that works really, as you find yourself pushing to be able to do and achieve all the things. You end up in a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, sometimes accompanied by a sense of detachment and a reduction in your job performance. 

Which literally does the opposite of what you set out to do. Cue the irony. 

Burnout isn’t just a temporary dip in productivity, it can have lasting effects on your career. Your performance is reduced, you might be dealing with strained relationships with your colleagues and your ability to make sound decisions is compromised, to name a few.

This also has an impact on your personal life, mental and physical health and takes a toll on your overall quality of life.

Being able to recognise the consequences of burnout is important for you to protect your own wellbeing but also support you with the ability to navigate the challenges of a demanding professional life. 

Start by establishing boundaries, prioritise your self care, learn to delegate and regularly assess your workload to ensure that you feel supported as you go after your career goals. 

Whilst we may think that overworking is helpful at the time it impacts your performance and hinders your career growth. 

raise your awareness and take action

Being able to move away from feeling stagnant in your career requires you to deep dive on the issues that are holding you back, even if that issue is you and it feels uncomfortable. 

Raising your awareness on the part you might be playing is the first step toward moving forward in your career. 

If you find yourself feeling stuck and looking for guidance on how to navigate through stagnation in your career, I can support you with personalised insights and strategies to help you move towards a more fulfilling career.

The Thrive & Grow Project offers one on one coaching, group coaching and online courses available.

Book a free discovery call below to explore options to suit your needs.