No one’s employment journey is perfectly smooth. There will always be bumps along the way. You may be laid off, fired, or passed over for promotion. Or you may just come to a point where you feel stuck.
How can you weather struggles like these and emerge with clarity and greater momentum?
Begin by reminding yourself that no job is permanent.
Think of each position as an assignment—a stepping stone on the path to your next opportunity.
By seeing each role as an opportunity to learn and grow, you are likely to increase your job satisfaction.
Still, it’s inevitable that at some point in your work journey, you’ll experience a setback or feel stuck.
You may be tempted to respond in the moment, but stop yourself. The first thing out of your mouth isn’t likely to be useful for your reputation or job prospects.
Instead, take time to cool down.
When you’re stressed, your body automatically goes into “fight-or-flight” mode.
Adreneline courses through your body, which makes it hard to think or speak rationally.
Once you’ve gotten past your initial emotional response, use these strategies to reframe your thinking—and turn the challenge into an opportunity:
Switch the question
Swap “Why me?” and other questions that provoke self-pity. Opt for action-oriented questions, such as “What can I do to move forward?” or “What positives can I gain from this situation?”
Set “negativity appointments”
Rather than let negative thoughts consume you, schedule specific times each day where you allow yourself to think about the setback. During the rest of the day, if negative thoughts occur, mentally set them aside until your “appointment.”
Try to see other points of view
Looking at events or decisions from the company’s vantage point helps you forgive where necessary and gain insight that may help you avoid repeating mistakes.
If you’re between jobs, use coach, consultant, and author Lauren Mackler's advice to make the most of your time.
Everyone has bad days or even weeks at work. But if you’ve felt stuck—not learning, not growing, not engaged—for longer than that, you may be at a career impasse.
Such impasses are not unusual. Admitting you’re caught up in one is the first step to making a change.
Timothy Butler, Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School, suggests thinking about a career impasse as a wake-up call.
Here are ways to start moving past the impasse:
Identify five to seven jobs that excite you
Look at the underlying themes. Are you searching for new learning opportunities? Do you want to unleash your artistic side? Use these to narrow your list down.
Collect data on your short list of options
Conduct informational interviews and read up on any new skills or companies that interest you. Tap your networks to get feedback on the options you’re considering.
Look for opportunities
Can you redesign your job or are there other positions in the company that would be a better fit? If so, explore these possibilities with your manager. Consider expanding your search to other companies only after exhausting these options.