Have you ever felt ‘stuck’ as a director or manager? How did you overcome it?

Are you feeling stuck in your career?

Walk along with me. Do you:

• Look at work and feel like, “huh?” unmotivated and uninspired to pick the mess apart
• Scroll social media (or even Google’s Discover feed on a bad day) to cut time at your desk
• Hear the sound of a ping and think uh, here we go again

That’s kind of what boredom in a job feels like. That’s not all the signs, and you may not match precisely, but you get the hint. Feeling stuck at work is not an uncommon feeling at all. The numbers tell the story.

60% of people in a US survey reported job dissatisfaction.

If you are sitting in an office, there’s a good chance it’s you or your next-door neighbor. I had 15 years of work experience before my entrepreneurial stint, so I have had my fair share of feelings and fear of stagnation. Add to it the present. Jobs are at an all-time low. As a result, people are holding on to their lives.

If you are there too, read on.

Beating career stagnation after a pandemic amid a job crisis

Now, I cannot offer panaceas. But. Here’s something bound to help and give much-needed mental relief: Change your location and think. Move farther away from your desk, or go to a newer spot, and try to answer these questions:

• How am I feeling? Let’s try to answer that with 3–5 adjectives.
• Why am I feeling that? Try to connect these feelings with the main causes. There could be multiple, and there could be cross-loadings.
• What have I done about it so far? Even if it’s nothing, it’s alright. We just need to know.
• What do I really want to do? Where’s the gap coming in? What would you change about your role or workplace to improve things?
• How can I get there? There’s no sure-shot way. But throw in some ideas about what you have always wanted to do and where you can fit them.

Now, let’s talk more about the last point. Beyond building self-awareness to the point where you know what’s wrong and what right looks like, actions are the most critical part of this story. Here are two things you should do to get more clarity on this:

Talk to someone trust worthy

It could be anyone, your partner, colleague, or college buddy who sat in the same classes with you. The key is that this person should be able to understand what you want and how badly you want it. First, it will reduce your cognitive load and make your mind easier. Second, they can objectively assess the situation and suggest ways to proceed. Sometimes, these people can also double up as your learning or accountability partners to ensure you follow through on the goals.

Talk to an expert

A career coach or a mentor is your best bet in getting advice that suits your professional context. While the first person offers mental peace, this one offers concrete ways out. They can help you decide the path to upskill or proceed professionally. If there are specific workplace issues, like a negative team environment or unmotivated peers, they can also help you in that area. I have coached multiple managers over the years and have seen that it’s about giving the right nudges in most instances.

Whenever we get stuck, we hold on to the situation and think that somehow, we need to get out of it. But take a step back and let people help out. It’ll be easier, more comfortable, and a step forward in the direction you want to attain.