Navigate the fog - 3 stages of career stuckness (Where are you?)
The career happiness spectrum
It simply not possible to leap from feeling career stuck to feeling Fierce at work in one fell swoop - they're at opposite ends of the career happiness spectrum.
The transformation doesn't happen overnight.
It's a progression that demands understanding, time, patience and focus - things in short suppy for many of the midlife professionals I met - to navigate through the fog.
But before we can move anywhere, what does it truly mean to be "stuck" in your career?
Before you decide to make change, it’s helpful to understand where you are in the career stuckness stages. Then, you’re better able to decide if you’ve got the energy to do what’s needed to make successful changes.
What’s your personal flavour of “stuck” ?
It’s tricky to define it in one simple sentence because the truth is, we all experience feeling stuck in radically different, personal ways.
Perhaps you find yourself in a toxic work environment that saps your energy?
Or relationships at work have left you feeling isolated?
Maybe you're no longer leveraging your skills and talents in ways that feel good?
Or feeling adrift because you've been in the same role for too long?
Perhaps uncertainty about the future has paralyeed you?
You could be brimming with ideas - yet immobilized by inaction?
Or perhaps you're searching for more meaningful, fulfilling work but haven’t a clue where to start?
You are not alone.
Drawing from extensive interviews with over 3,500 professionals over the last 15 years of guiding individuals through these murky waters, I've learned one undeniable truth: feeling stuck is a stress-filled experience, with each stage bringing its own set of challenges.
Stuck Stage One: The Creeping fog of inertia
Initially, this stress is insidious, barely noticeable as we go about our daily routines on autopilot.
Life's incessant demands overshadow the static nature of our careers.
Yet, this stage of inertia is deceptive - it can extend for years, quietly closing doors to opportunities as we lose engagement with our work and ourselves.
Stuck Stage One: This slow-moving stage can be deceptive. It creeps up on you ever so slowly. You might not notice for a while. Certainly others won’t be aware. All can look fine, on the surface. Although internally you begin to question the familiar world you’ve inhabited for a while. Making change here, if caught early enough, can be light and energising and often quick.
Stuck Stage Two: The clarity of discontent
Gradually, the fog begins to settle, revealing the confines of our situation.
The realisation that our professional freedom has waned sparks deeper thoughts often around meaning, purpose and our contributions to the world.
This stage is marked by a growing discontent and the looming shadow of potential failure, urging us to cling to the familiar despite its confines.
Stuck Stage Two: Gradually the prison bars of your stuckness make themselves clear. You feel deeply stuck. You find yourself sitting in the fog and pondering “Is this it?” You often can be found complaining. You usually sit in inaction while becoming more and more aware of how stuck you are. External help is often required.
Stuck Stage Three: The deep thaw of realisation
In the final stage, the full extent of our career paralysis becomes undeniable.
Efforts to avoid contemplation or seek distractions require monumental effort.
Feelings of isolation and inadequacy intensify, and the fear of failure becomes a GIANT barrier to change.
Stuck Stage Three: You feel incredibly stuck. Circular thoughts abound. You need help to exit from this stage because inadequacy feelings dominant. Self-critcism stops you seeing the wood for the trees. Esape feeling abound. A lack of strategic thinking is common.
Moving Forward: The light at the end of the foggy tunnel
Despite the daunting journey through these stages, change is within your reach - at all stages.
The key lies in challenging your familiar.
You know what I mean?
Those entrenched thought patterns, recurring auto-pilot behaviors and the unquestionable comfort you experience by keeping the familiar well…familar.
These familiar thoughts, behaviours and situations seem safe. Our brains view familiar as safe.
But when we’re talking about career stuckness, familiar is far from safe.
If you’ve read any of my other articles, (especially one of my oldest articles 50-year old corporate toast ), you’ll know that familiar in midlife careers is packed with danger.
Change is absolutely possible….
Notice I don’t say “change is easy”, “light” or “can be done in 3 easy steps”.
Change when you’re feeling stuck in your 40s, 50s or 60s requires energy, focus, a little courage and a willingness to confront the fear of the unknown and to try out new things.
But you needn't face this journey alone.
Two programmes to guide you from feeling career stuck to feeling Fierce at work.
The Fierce Emporium: A DIY Career Design program bolstered by extraordinary group support (my best value programme)
Personalised Career Design: A one-on-one approach tailored to navigate you more swiftly and effectively towards your goals. Two options: Fast and Speedy Sherpa fast.
