It would be ideal if our careers moved along smooth, predictable pathways towards satisfying, fulfilling and enjoyable work. And, while this should be natural and maybe easy, the path can, in reality, be anything but easy. There are several reasons for this:

Therefore, the focus of this blog is the most common career blocks that show up and how we can deal with them. Here are the 4 most blocks that are likely to show up.

 

1.  A lack of belief that there’s something better ‘out there’

One of the main blockers when it comes to your career is the belief that there isn’t a better alternative. Maybe you feel ‘stuck’, but you can’t see that a better, more enjoyable opportunity is possible for you. To have this unconscious Mindset that change isn’t possible for you can be stupefying. It can stop you from thinking of alternatives and keep you in a job or career that’s mediocre at best.

 

 

Remember, in addition to your existing job there will always be at least 3 career or job alternatives you could consider. Nurture a Possibility Mindset that these other attractive and interesting options exist for you, even if you don’t initially feel like that’s the case. What's magic about career change is that new possibilities start to emerge as you begin to move towards those things that interest you. But you have to get started …

 

2.  Lack of clarity on what would be your ideal next move

 

Even if you believe that there is something out there that would be better for you, if you are not clear on what your ideal next move could be, this becomes a problem and a blocker. Sometimes we want out, but we don't know what 'out' would look like.

 

Action

Research the type of work you would love to do and find out more about companies you would love to work for.

Start to create some options around

-       What roles are you interested in? Describe them and record them in a journal or career planner

-       Which organisations do you want to work in? and even,

-       What industries are attracting you right now?

Once you have started to do this, you will see that ideas and options start to manifest themselves. Contemplate these, rank them, rate and begin to get excited about what could be next for you.

3.  No coherent strategy

 

Great careers don’t usually happen by themselves and without any deliberate forward planning. It is more likely that your career will be either static or will move in accordance with the plans that other people may have for you, your boss or well-meaning friends and colleagues for example.

Understanding what you want to do and achieve in your career and identifying the steps that will bring you closer to those goals is the way to go. This then becomes your strategy.

 

 

Take a good look at where you are in your career right now. Where do you want to be in your career? What are the next steps you need to take? Finally, what can you do today to plan your first actions?

 

4.  Lack of confidence to take the leap

 

Many people don’t make a shift in their jobs and careers because they don’t feel confident to do so. This positive motivational energy needed to make a big change appears to be absent and therefore, the thought of job applications, interviews and maybe even presentations seems like it would be too difficult and unpleasant to do.

 

The thing to remember though, is that confidence isn’t something fixed which you have or you don’t have. It’s something you can create and develop. In fact, it turns out that the way that you can do this is to take action.

 

 

First, decide to take the necessary steps to find and start doing work you love. This commitment will give you the courage to take those steps, and as you do so, you will see that your capability increases and your resistance to change decreases. The skills needed to take the leap improve and this then starts to feel like growing confidence. And, always remember, it’s not ‘I need to be confident to take action’, but rather ‘I need to take action to be confident’.

 

 

Additional suggestions: Sometimes you may need additional support in your career. In which case, seek help from those around you or get professional support. 

 

If you need help from a professional coach, reach out to me and let's have a FREE 45-minute chat. I can support you to make the leap into a more enjoyable role.