Is my career stagnant?

If you're stuck in a rut with your career, you may as well be in the middle of nowhere. It may be an isolating experience to seek for anything without having a clear idea of what it is you're looking for or what it will take to get your professional life back on track.

The first thing you need to keep in mind if you're feeling like you're in a rut is this:

You're Not Alone. It's Not Uncommon to Hit a Wall in Your Career.

A poll conducted by the University of Phoenix found that sixty-four percent of working individuals feel that the chances available to them in their present organizations are inadequate.

Being in a situation of professional stagnation is not something that bothers everyone. Some people feel more secure and at ease knowing they will always go to work for the same firm and continue to do the same job. They are not going to find value in this post.

People that are interested in advancing their careers and are looking for new possibilities that will stretch them are encouraged to apply for this position. If you are prepared to put in the time and effort to make yourself promotable, then it is an opportunity for you.

If any of the following apply to your professional life:

You are no longer being pushed by your job, and in the last three months, you haven't accomplished anything new.

Despite the fact that your performance assessments have been nothing short of stellar, you are not yet regarded as "ready now" for responsibilities or tasks at the next level.

You have the impression that you are trapped, and you are unable to discern a range of opportunities for further growth.

Your reputation, network, or number of followers isn't growing in a manner that's to your advantage.

When you make suggestions and advice, you are not heard or taken seriously by others around you.

BE AWARE THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT THAT OF YOUR EMPLOYER, TO CONTINUOUSLY BUILD YOUR SKILLS, DEVELOP YOUR NETWORK, AND MAKE YOUR VO Nobody except you will ever have a greater interest in the development and progress of your professional career than you do.

Roughly half of the people I train end up forgetting this at some point along the journey. They are sitting around doing nothing as they wait for someone to offer them additional responsibilities or a promotion. They are "sleeping on their laurels" rather than volunteering for new tasks (sometimes under the impression that they have earned a vacation from the difficult things), which shows a lack of initiative on their part. They anticipate a rise in their influence and effect just as a result of the length of time they have spent in a certain position.

I refer to this as a self-imposed stalemate in one's career. It turned into a virtuous spiral, and it was tied to the number one error that individuals make, which both leads to career stagnation and makes the situation worse.

If you overheard someone else making similar arguments, your response would be to roll your eyes or recite a list of all the data that contradicts these overarching justifications. Why, therefore, should you excuse your behavior with an explanation that is so straightforward?

It's possible that you're not being completely truthful with yourself. First, you should evaluate yourself before pointing the finger onto the manager, the firm, or the team. Instead of making excuses for yourself, take a long, hard look in the mirror.

Are you, in your eagerness to grow, pretending to be someone or something that you're not?

Have you, in an attempt to curry favor with others, exaggerated some aspects of who you are or withheld information in ways that cause others to speculate about what's actually going on under the surface?

In the midst of the day-to-day grind, do you find yourself retreating to your own comfort zone rather than consistently pushing yourself to new limits?

Have you, in your quest of a promotion, prioritized power and prestige above the activities that bring you the most pleasure, or have you done the opposite?

Have you, while taking a defensive stance, accepted responsibility for your own inadequacies and mistakes in a public way? Have you accepted them as lessons to be learned or have you tried to avoid them in the hopes that no one would notice?

You can get out of a career rut by doing the following, regardless of the other obstacles that stand in your way:

You can't fake it; honesty is required. You have to be truthful with yourself before you can be open and honest with other people. Being real, having self-awareness, and being loyal to oneself are all aspects of this.

It will be much simpler for you to take these actions in ways that are meaningful and effective after you have reestablished contact with who you are. Caution! It would be an exercise in futility and frustration on your part to do these steps before you start working on your own authenticity.

1. Determine what it is that you want to accomplish in life. Not what you want to be or how you like others to understand you. The joy that accompanies an increase in rank or title is only fleetingly felt once it has been achieved. The fulfillment you seek will be found in the activities that you will carry out on a regular basis.

2. Make it a priority to highlight the areas in which your abilities may contribute to the development and accomplishment of the objectives of others. Because the individuals you train will be able to step into your position without any problems, you will make it simple for higher-ups to promote you. You will be able to make a contribution to the company that is on a higher level as you improve the capacity of others, which will highlight the leadership talents you possess.

3. Serve as an example for others by publicly identifying the areas in which you have room for improvement or in which you need assistance. Ask for aid. Seek development possibilities. Stop trying to avoid the difficult work that is required of you (and all of us!) in order to close the skills gap. This may entail focusing on your soft skills, and if it does, you will need to locate resources that will push you to do more than just the bare minimum in these areas of your career.

4. Figure out the baby steps that will get you a little bit closer to your ultimate objective. If you are only focused on climbing the next rung of the professional ladder, you run the risk of missing out on other chances that may not be as visible.

5. Consider the points of view of other people. You may find that spending time with an impartial business coach or participating in a 360-degree evaluation designed for leaders is beneficial to you. Rereading your performance review or playing back the reasons you were given for not being promoted into higher-level employment is something you should do without becoming defensive. Inquire of your superior, "What do I need to do in order to be ready for the chances at the next level?" Instead of disputing the answer or ignoring it outright, listen to what it has to say.

When you are sincere and upfront with others, you will be able to identify more possibilities that will truly please you on a professional level, as well as be in a better position to view those options and choose among them. You'll be opening up more doors for yourself and venturing into uncharted territory as a result. You and your career will be given a new lease of life rather than becoming stagnant.