Feeling Stuck in Your Career: How Coaching Helps
The feeling of being stuck is not a pleasant one. A person can feel frustrated, lost, bored and disillusioned with their career, with no clear direction or plan for where they are going. The person knows they need change and no longer wants to feel the way they do. Some people may feel stuck in a job that doesn’t fulfil them and want a new challenge. Some might have been made redundant and can’t find a new role or have been unemployed for a long time. Others may want to progress in their careers but feel overlooked, lack direction or not know what they want to do next. Some people may feel under pressure in their current role and be unsure whether they should stay or leave. Feeling stuck for a long time can affect confidence, motivation and create a poor self-image.
The first step towards change and moving forward can be very difficult if you have been stuck for some time. You may have to change your outlook and learn to take responsibility for the choices available to you. There may be fears of the unknown when it comes to change and worries that things could get worse than they are now. This kind of reaction is common, as the brain is designed to protect us from the unknown, even when we are unhappy with our current situation. We can become comfortable with what we know, even when it is no longer working for us. We can feel fulfilled and find meaning in our lives when we choose our own direction, make our own decisions and pursue desires that are in line with our values. When you learn to address the fears that are holding you back and realise that you do have choices in how you approach your career, you can begin to move forward rather than allowing your fears and the stories you tell yourself to hold you back.
There are ways to move forward from feeling stuck and work towards change. It takes courage, and the small steps are the most important. There is nothing wrong with feeling lost, frustrated or even miserable. These feelings don’t determine who you are. In fact, you can look at them as a sign that something in your career may need to change and that there is an opportunity to explore what you want to do next.
A good way to become unstuck is to get help from a coach. A coach is independent, non-judgemental and will support you in working towards your goals. They will challenge your limiting self-beliefs that may be holding you back and will hold you accountable as you work towards your desired outcome.
Coaching is a process and takes a few sessions to work towards your goals. Moving from being and feeling stuck is a transition. Along the coaching journey, you will gain new awareness and insight about yourself. You will get to work on your own personal development. Clients are looking for a more fulfilling career and working life that has meaning and purpose. Throughout the coaching relationship, a client will learn how to set goals, plan their action steps, look at all the options available to them and decide on the best course of action to take to achieve their goal.
A coach will help their client with their personal or professional goals. A coach will respect their client as an individual and allow them to express their identity, situation, beliefs and values in a trusting and safe environment. The journey towards a more fulfilling career may feel overwhelming and scary. It might feel easier to stay where you are, even when you feel stuck. Coaching is a way to help you take control of your career, take hold of the steering wheel and work towards a career that allows you to fulfil your potential. Working with a coach can equip you with tools to develop your self-awareness and gain new insights about yourself from a different perspective and fresh approach. You may not be able to control every circumstance in your career, but you can explore the choices available to you and decide how you want to move forward. Give yourself time to reflect and consider what you might regret more: trying or not trying at all!
