How can I navigate a career crossroads?

Getting stuck at a career crossroads can feel really uncomfortable. When you don’t know which path to take, your natural flow is interrupted and life is stalled. Apart from hindering your career progression, staying in this state of inertia for too long can negatively affect your mental and physical health.

To shift out of this low gear and build momentum towards a fulfilling working life, you need to take a bit of a counterintuitive approach.

Your first step is to stop thinking of detailed solutions. This means you can bin questions like: Would I be better as a technical expert or in a business development role? Should I quit my corporate job to follow my calling? What if I took a horizontal move that uses my skillset but in an industry I respect? While these are all perfectly valid questions, they come after you truly understand who you are and what you want from your life.

Self-awareness is the catalyst that will free you from a career crossroads. After all, you’re only stuck for one of two reasons. Either you can’t quite see what is out of alignment in your life. Or you can see it, but aren’t ready to accept it.

Enlist support

Working with a coach is a great way to build self-awareness. You have a safe space to explore your ideas so you can shine a light on yourself and the dark paths ahead of you. You get to see your options and obstacles clearly. You receive a fresh perspective to help you make informed decisions. And you build the skills and confidence to start forging your own path with purpose.