Breaking Free: Overcoming the Career Plateau

Victoria Canham • 14 August 2024 • 4 min read

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs

There’s a moment when the familiar becomes a cage. The once-exciting challenges turn into a monotonous routine. It’s as if you’re stuck in a record on repeat, playing the same tune over and over. I know the feeling. There was a time when the lyric “I want to break free” from Queen’s iconic song resonated with me more than ever before. I was caught in a career rut, feeling stifled, unappreciated and unfulfilled.

“I want to break free from your lies

You're so self-satisfied I don't need you

I've got to break free”

This is a common experience for many high-achievers. The career plateau is a place where ambition meets stagnation. It’s a frustrating state where your potential feels untapped, and your progress seems halted. Recognising the signs is the first step towards breaking free.

Common symptoms of a career plateau include:

- A sense of boredom or monotony in your role

- Lack of professional growth or development

- Decreased job satisfaction

- Feeling undervalued or under-appreciated

- Difficulty making decisions or taking risks

These symptoms can lead to a downward spiral, affecting not just your career but also your personal life. Stress, burnout, and decreased motivation can become persistent companions.

Get to the root cause

Understanding the root cause of your plateau is the first step to breaking free. Is it a lack of challenge? Limited growth opportunities? Burnout? Fear? Whatever it is, it's time to confront it head-on.

Common culprits include:

Lack of challenge: Your current role may no longer stimulate your intellectual curiosity or provide opportunities for growth.

Limited growth opportunities: Your organisation may have reached a plateau itself, limiting your advancement potential.

Burnout: Overwork, stress, and lack of work-life balance can lead to exhaustion and decreased performance.

Fear of failure: The fear of taking risks or making mistakes can hold you back from pursuing new opportunities.

Your Blueprint to Breakthrough

To break free from the plateau, you need a strategic approach. Here are some effective strategies:

Self-Assessment: Know Thyself

Identify your strengths, weaknesses, and passions: This self-awareness is crucial for aligning your career with your true potential.

Set clear goals: Define what success looks like for you. What do you want to achieve in the next five years?

Develop a growth mindset: Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth.

Skill Enhancement: Future-Proof Your Career

Identify skill gaps: What skills do you need to acquire to advance in your career?

Invest in your education: Consider pursuing additional certifications, degrees, or online courses.

Seek out new challenges: Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone to expand your skill set.

Network Strategically: Build Your Support System

Expand your professional network: Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and leverage social media.

Build relationships with mentors and sponsors: Seek guidance from experienced professionals.

Leverage your network for job opportunities: Inform your network about your career goals.

Mindset Transformation: Unleash Your Potential

Overcome fear of failure: Embrace risk-taking as a necessary component of success.

Build resilience: Develop the ability to bounce back from setbacks.

Focus on your strengths: Leverage your unique abilities to create opportunities.

Explore New Horizons: Reimagine Your Career

Consider a career change: Evaluate your passions and explore alternative career paths.

Embrace entrepreneurship: Start your own business if you have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Seek a lateral move: Explore opportunities within your organisation that offer new challenges.

Visualise Victory

Imagine yourself on the other side of the plateau. You’re confident, fulfilled, and thriving in your career. You’ve achieved a balance between work and personal life. Your skills are in high demand, and you're recognised as a leader in your field. You’re earning what you’re worth, and you have the freedom to pursue your passions. This is the vision you should strive for.

Breaking through a plateau requires courage, determination, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. By implementing these strategies and maintaining a positive mindset, you can overcome challenges and achieve your full potential. Your career is a journey, and with the right approach, you can navigate any obstacles and create a fulfilling professional, and personal, life.

Are you ready to shatter your plateau and ignite your potential?

Breaking free from a career plateau starts with taking action. Don't let another day slip by feeling unfulfilled. Implement these strategies, set ambitious goals, and unlock your true potential. You have the power to rewrite your story. Let's make it a bestseller.

Let’s discuss your next steps - book a no obligation call.

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So Good They Can't Ignore You - Cal Newport

Cal Newport's clearly-written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path.

This book offers a refreshing perspective on career success, emphasising the importance of mastering a craft and finding fulfilment through deep work. It can be a valuable resource for those looking to break free from the monotony of their current role and discover new paths for growth.

We’re not just about overcoming obstacles, we’re about transforming lives.

Victoria Canham - Your Performance Partner

Victoria is an ICF-accredited certified professional coach, who offers personalised performance coaching. With a background in change management and countless hours of professional coaching training and experience, I made the big switch to full-time coaching in 2020. I know what it is like to suddenly have the rug pulled out from under you while you're busy making other plans, as a result, I now help people like you to bounce back from adversity and major setbacks to emerge stronger and better than ever before. Our clients have transformed from feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges to confident, goal-driven individuals who navigate life's obstacles with ease. They've achieved their personal and professional objectives and embodied peak performance in all aspects of life. You too can experience this transformation. This is your moment. Your chance to take control, to choose growth over stagnation, achievement over inaction. This is your opportunity to prove to yourself that you're not defined by your challenges—you're defined by how you rise above them. Are you ready to transform your life and achieve peak performance?