5 ways to overcome career stagnation
Miscellaneous / / August 29, 2022
The reason for the "calm" at work can be both a lack and an excess of incentives.
There comes a time in each of our lives when we begin to doubt our career decisions. This happens gradually. First, our patience is tested by serious obstacles, then small routine tasks get on our nerves, until one day we say to ourselves: "That's enough." There is no more motivation to move on.
If you recognize yourself in this description, you may be dealing with career stagnation.
What causes career stagnation
The reason for the stagnation at work can be anything: the behavior of the boss, relationships with colleagues, a broken coffee machine, processing, all at once or nothing. Stagnation is fueled not only by external factors, sometimes it is a consequence of the fact that internal resources have run out.
Here are some possible reasons why you feel like your career is at a standstill.
Lack of clear goals
Does your work seem pointless to you? Do you often ask yourself why you do what you do? Does a lack of professional reference make you feel incompetent?
Over time, we lose sight of our motives and stray from our intended path. When this happens, our interest in work fades, and we feel that our connection with what we love is interrupted.
In addition, we feel lost if we lose one very important thing - dreams. When it is not there, it confuses us.
No complex tasks
They take a lot of time and effort, but they force us to try new and new ways until we find a solution. Thanks to complex tasks, we develop and become true professionals.
When work doesn’t cause any difficulties and turns into a boring routine, devoid of creativity and freedom of expression, we quickly burn out. Unfortunately, this situation can deprive us of the ability to innovate and think outside the box.
Lack of incentives to work
Many underestimate their skills and abilities and take jobs for which they are too qualified. As a result, such people are engaged in tasks below their professional level and do not receive the highest salary.
When we do not find the proper use of our talents and capabilities, the ability to learn new things weakens. As a result, we stop grow professionally. No growth means no fun – work becomes boring.
Too many incentives to work
The other extreme is overwork, which makes us lose patience. Too many tasks, a disgruntled boss, and inattentive co-workers only contribute to excessive annoyance, which ultimately leads to burnout.
Unsatisfactory salary
For many, money is an extremely important factor in professional life. And this is absolutely normal. When we work hard to multiply the material reward for our work, and this does not happen, all desire to make an effort disappears. And that's okay too.
Lack of praise
Money is not the only way to get rewarded for the work done. Attention and respect for our merits are no less important. When we don't get it, we can feel undervalued and even humiliated.
Sure, money pays the bills, but recognition feeds our ego, energizes us, and lifts our spirits.
How to overcome career stagnation
If you find all the signs of stagnation in your work, don't worry - you can still fix it. Here are five effective ways to get out of a career stagnation.
1. Find meaning
What are you striving for? What makes you put on work clothes, sit in meetings, and take on professional tasks? What do you want to do and what kind of specialist to become?
Each of us has an innate desire to achieve something, it is it that pushes us forward. Once you start talking about it out loud to yourself and others, you will make a commitment to fulfill it. This will help get you off the ground.
2. Set clear goals
Many people see work solely as a source of livelihood. Of course, such an approach can fill the pockets, but it cannot stimulate thinking.
Goals, short term and long-termmake us look forward to a new day. Over time, our plans change with priorities and needs, but we are never left without a goal.
Think about which direction you want to go so you never feel like you're going nowhere.
3. be realistic
It takes time to achieve any goal. You are unlikely to start speaking perfect Spanish or playing the piano virtuoso in just a month. Moreover, an unrealistic deadline only increases the chances that you will quit halfway through when you do not see the desired results in the allotted time.
Try to be realistic and set yourself realistic goals and objectives.
4. Constantly evolve
If you want to keep up with the rapid changes in your professional field, you will have to act more decisively. Purchase new skills and hone the old ones, follow the trends and prove yourself every day, investing your skill and time in your favorite business.
Be patient. If you set yourself an ambitious goal, the journey to get there can be long and tiring.
5. Motivate yourself
Motivation lifts us to the peak of our capabilities. And it is easier for us to overcome stagnation, which often indicates the depletion of mental strength, when we are internally motivated. Because in this case, we determine the causes of problems and solve them not for the sake of an outside reward, but for the sake of self-development.
Every minute stretches like a whole hour when professional life has frozen in place. However, to solve the problem, it is enough to listen to yourself. Be unique, let your work and approach to business be remembered. There is nothing better than developing every day, expanding your boundaries and leaving in the past everything that pulls you back.
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