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You know that feeling when you look around at work and think, “Is this it?” Like you just feel a bit flat. There's no stretch, no challenge, no real excitement. Just Monday morphing into Friday over and over again.
If that’s where your head’s at, first of all: you’re not alone. Loads of people hit a point in their career where things stop moving — and the tricky part is figuring out what to do about it.
Here’s a breakdown of why it might be happening, and what you can actually do to get unstuck:
1. Figure out what “growth” actually means to you
Professional growth doesn’t always mean climbing the ladder or managing a team. Maybe it’s about learning new skills. Maybe it’s about getting better at what you already do. Maybe you want more creative projects, or to pivot into something completely different.
Take a minute to ask yourself:
“If I felt like I was growing, what would be happening?”
Clarity here is step one — otherwise, you’re just chasing some vague feeling of “more.”
2. Look at your current role with fresh eyes
Before you bin your job and go soul-searching in Bali, take stock of what might already be available to you.
Are there cross-functional projects you could join?
Could you shadow someone in another department for a day?
Is there training or mentoring you've just never asked for?
Sometimes we assume the answer is “no” before we even put our hand up. Speak to your manager or someone you trust and let them know you want a challenge. If they’re worth their salt, they’ll want to help.
3. Check your mindset (sorry, but it matters)
If you've already convinced yourself that "nothing's going to change," it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Growth often requires a bit of awkwardness, a bit of risk — and yes, a bit of failure too. But that’s where the good stuff is.
You might not love the process at first. But you’ll love what it builds in you.
4. Start learning again (on your own terms)
Not everything has to come from your boss or your company. If there’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn or something you’ve been curious about, now’s the time.
Sign up for an online course
Read (or listen to) a few books in your field
Attend events, webinars, meetups — even if it feels awkward at first
You’d be surprised how energising it is just to feel your brain doing something new again.
5. Talk to other people (seriously)
Sometimes we get so stuck in our own heads, we forget that other people might see our situation totally differently.
Speak to a mentor, a recruiter (hi 👋), or someone a few steps ahead of you in their career. Ask them how they navigated plateaus. What changed for them? What helped? These conversations can shift your perspective fast — and might lead you to ideas or roles you hadn’t even considered.
6. And yes… maybe it is time to move on
If you’ve tried all the above, and you’re still in the same place 6 months later, it might be time to change jobs — or even industries.
Not every job is built for growth. Not every manager is invested in your development. Sometimes, the best move is out the door — not because you’ve failed, but because you’ve outgrown the space.
You don’t have to stay stuck.
Feeling professionally stagnant doesn’t mean you’ve peaked. It means you’re self-aware enough to want more — and that’s a good thing.
Start small. Get curious. Try something new. And if you’re ready for a bigger leap? We’re right here to help you land it.
Email: hello@vanrath.com
Phone: (028) 9033 0250