Let me explain why and hopefully you will change your perspective about feeling stuck.
Do you remember the Maslow pyramid? The hierarchy of needs?
So what is the signal your body sends you when you need water? You feel thirsty
And when you need food? You feel hungry
And when you need shelter? You feel cold or scared
So what do you think happens when your soul, your heart needs growth?
You feel stuck.
So, feeling stuck is a sign. It’s positive place to be as you are in a position to make a change. You are at choice and you can decide to have a different experience at work. We’ve all been there. And we will still feel it several times throughout our life.
So how should you handle it?
When you need growth, you need to look for expansion, for more knowledge, for happy things that will fulfil you. It’s about energy and feeling the drive. You need to be deliberate about it.
Here are some options to consider:
1. Stop overthinking
Stop ruminating on how stuck you feel. Yes, your career is important and deserves careful thought, up to an extent. However, if your frustration is consuming your mind it’s time to balance things out with other aspects of your life. So consider picking again a forgotten hobby, do things you particularly enjoy, spend time with friends and family, get some movement into your day, etc.
2. Proactively upskill
Adopt a growth mindset and become a lifelong learner. So what would you like to learn or improve so you stay updated on trends or industry developments or even broaden your self awareness. Look for relevant webinars or podcasts; access training or development ressources your company might be offering. Learn a new language, a new skill, mentor someone.
3. Reconnect with the things in your job you like the most
Take some time to reflect and reconnect with what you love most about your job. List it all. How can you make all these things more present? Ask yourself what made you take the job? If this one is hard, especially in current times, simply being honest and kind to yourself, as well as taking small steps to adjust your energy flow, can greatly help you to feel better.
4. Turn to others for inspiration
Look what experts or those you look up to are doing in their careers and how they got there. Expand your network to include those you aspire to be like and learn all you can from them. Be brave and even ask for some virtual coffees with some of them. This will give you the motivation, inspiration and knowledge to really drive your career forward.
5. Work on your personal brand
Take the opportunity to work on your online presence, review your Linkedin profile, think about what you could do to position yourself as an expert in your field. As a first step, google your name, do you like what pops up in the search results? Is everything consistent? Does it represent you?
6. Have an honest conversation with your boss
If progress is not at sight, you might want to have a transparent and honest conversation on where you stand and where you want to be headed. This type of conversation might be difficult to have for some of you. But it’s the best way to align expectations and avoid being blindsided. Prepare this conversation beforehand. Be clear on what you enjoy and what you don’t in your current role, how you see yourself progressing, what kind of work you would love to do in an ideal world.
7. Find a new job
If you’ve done all of the above and you still feel stuck, it might be time to explore the market and look for another position. Be clear about what you want, update your CV and Linkedin, and get ready for some powerful networking.
Yes, feeling stuck is frustrating and sometimes even agonising. But remember, it’s just a sign that you need growth. So get out there and take action!
Have a great and unstuck week,
To your fulfillment
Sophie
PS: If you feel you are at a crossroads in your career and you feel stuck, unmotivated and unclear where to head next, book some time with me here. I’d be happy to have a conversation to understand where you are, what you want and try to help you out. Don’t be shy, no strings attached, no commitments, just a conversation between human beings.
