Mornings come too early and days drag on way too long. What was once exciting, you now find boring. Instead of eagerly planning a project, you find yourself staring at the walls.
You never thought it would happen to you, yet here you are. You have come to a career plateau.
Stuck in a Rut
It happens at some point. When climbing the career ladder has somehow led you to a phase of stagnation, you can be left confused, restless and defeated.
Some people have scaled the rungs of success only to find themselves at a loss at the summit. It can happen both ways. For some at the pinnacle of fame and fortune still feel that they no longer possess the same satisfaction in their having climbed the ladder of success. For others, they feel less than their worth after the applause has died down and the spotlights are trained on someone else.
When you find yourself in such a situation, take this as an opportunity to look inward. It can be a sign that you have achieved what you first set out to do. This can be a chance for you to grow and expand your horizons. Instead of looking at it as a sinkhole, you can look at it as a springboard to other adventures.
Moving On
Most would say that there’s nowhere to go but up. But that may not always be the case. Below are some of the ways that you can try to get yourself out of that career pit stop, and rev your engine up towards another goal:
1. Sideways is also another way
When you find yourself already at such a (career) height but can no longer feel any thrill or fulfillment, it doesn’t mean that there’s nowhere for you to go. For some, the way to go can be sideways. It is only a matter of looking closely and seeing how many windows of opportunity will open. It is having the knowledge of which key to use. It is having the guts to take steps in opening doors to other challenges.
When you haven’t had a promotion in years and it seems that your direct superior has no plans of moving, talk to the HR department. Ask if a lateral move is possible. Check whether some departments can make use of your knowledge and experience. At times, even when you’ve reached a certain career point in one division, you can still excel in other areas of your company.
Whether you move upward or sideways, the point here is that you move.
2. Have a good talk
Sometimes, when you find yourself in a career slump, the best thing to do is ask. Ask your boss what barriers are there which are preventing you from getting promoted. Ask what else you need to do to earn points that will land you a step up the ladder. Ask what areas of improvement you need to work on so you can up your game.
Find a trusted friend or mentor who can also give you another perspective. Ask reputable colleagues that you look up to about how they were able to manage and elevate their careers. You may be able to gain valuable information that you can also apply to your own career path.
At the same time, you also need to ask yourself what you can do. Do you need to enhance your delegation skills? How about reviewing your current systems? You also need to look within and improve yourself if need be.
3. Enjoy the breather
Think of this career lull as a pit stop. It’s a time to pause and ponder. It’s the time to reflect and see where you really want to go.
If you can, properly request for a leave. It would not be fair to the company if you use company time and resources to contemplate upon your future. You cannot just let project slide simply because you are no longer motivated to go through it all. Twiddling your thumbs will not help you address the situation.
Find time to discuss your situation with your immediate superior and your HR manager. They might be able to offer insights and suggestions regarding your predicament. At the same time, they may be able to work out a plan that will be fair to all.
Explore other alternatives that you can take before you quit your job. There may be options you would want to consider to break out of your career plateau.
4. Go, grow and glow
One way of infusing a dose of excitement and challenge into your coasting career is to open your eyes and mind.
Improving your own set of skills and expanding your knowledge can be the key to turning your career around.
You can try out training courses on topics that you have always been interested in but haven’t had the chance to examine further. Have you always been interested in planning events but you’ve been stuck in inventory management all these years? Perhaps enrolling in event management courses would be a step in the right direction.
Have you been baking recreationally and been told you might just be the next Elisabeth Prueitt, but you’ve never taken the occasional raves seriously? Why not enrol in a baking class?
Slowly but surely, you can revisit and hone your skills in something you may also be passionate about, and maybe even take a detour from your high-pressure sales management post down the line.
There are also professional development training courses that you can enroll in to arm yourself with the latest trends and information in your field. For example, you can take a course on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Such courses can refresh or reintroduce you to the timeless principles of effectiveness so useful in any role. The insights you will learn will benefit you in more ways than one. Not only will they teach you to guard yourself from burnout and non-productivity but also equip you with the latest best practices that will keep you on top your game.
5. Acceptance is key
When you’ve combed out all possible scenarios and alternatives but still come up empty-handed, then perhaps it is time to accept reality.
When the company can no longer give you the satisfaction and career growth that you crave for or need, then face the fact and cut loose. Your skills, knowledge and expertise combined with new insights from personal development trainings and courses may be best utilized somewhere else.
Breaking away from a company that you have grown attached to – whether it be the number of years you’ve devoted to your job or the friendships you have established – is hard.
However, you need to take into account your personal growth and happiness as well. True friendships will last regardless of where you are. Career opportunities are all around you. Open your eyes, mind and heart and see where you can bloom the prettiest.
Forward, Always Forward
There are plenty of reasons why your career has hit the brakes. Take the time to find out why so you will know how to make it all work again. The key is with you. Only you can drive your career to the path that you want.
Do not allow yourself to be stuck in the middle of nowhere. Move. You need not move fast. Just move forward. Slowly but surely, you’ll get your pace back. And when you do, it will be a whole new world of challenges and opportunities all over again.
AUTHOR BIO
With over 20 years of experience in B2B marketing, Annick Nuyens first worked in the hospitality service industry and then moved to the knowledge industry. She currently works for Informa in the Dubai office, where she oversees marketing for public and inhouse training courses, conferences, exhibitions and managed events across the Middle East and Africa.
