Understanding the Plateau’s Signs
Feeling stuck in your career? I believe you may have felt as though your career had reached a stop, despite your best efforts to advance. Remember that you are not the only one experiencing this.
The first sign that you’ve reached a professional plateau is a lack of motivation.
Routine duties at work can get tedious and even draining. This could be due to a condition called cognitive stagnation, which happens when the brain stops obtaining new information to aid in its development.
Another sign that you are stagnated in your professional development is emotional burnout. It’s time to act when working seems like an unending effort and there’s no sense of accomplishment.
The Neurobiology of Plateau
The reward systems in the brain are influenced by the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is released in reaction to things that happen to us that we enjoy or find beneficial. Dopamine levels rise as we take on new tasks and succeed; this helps generate a feeling of accomplishment and drives us to take on more tasks.
Dopamine levels, however, decline with monotonous work and the absence of fresh challenges, which lowers output, creativity, and job satisfaction in general.
Reflect and Reevaluate
Recognizing that a problem exists is the first step to solving it. Try asking yourself a few questions:
Are you satisfied with your job?
Is there any part of your work that you can say you enjoy doing, or are you always dissatisfied? Think not only about the work that one does during the day but also about the context in which it is done.
Do you see opportunities for professional growth in this position? In this company?
Evaluate the potential of the existing position and the entire organization. Are there opportunities for career growth? Is there any provision for training programs or mentorship? If growth appears to be stagnant it might mean that it is time to look for another job or the company can not provide what you want.
Which tasks drain your energy?
Identifying energy-draining tasks can help you understand what aspects of your job are causing burnout. Maybe it is high time to switch from operational activities to managerial ones?
What motivates you?
Salary? Career opportunities? Benefits? Professional growth? Reflect on what moved you in the past to find out what really inspires you.
Self-analysis and honesty with yourself will be the best tools to figure out how to move forward.
Set New Goals
Once you’ve identified the root causes of your plateau, the next step is to set new goals. New goals can breathe life into your routine and outline the direction of your career path.
Your goals should be measurable, achievable, and specific. Maintaining your motivation requires that you set both short- and long-term objectives. Don’t, however, take everything at once.
You can start with the small and plan, for example, a new professional training. Networking and communicating with like-minded people and gaining new knowledge will definitely give you a boost of dopamine and increase your motivation to work.
Participating in ongoing education is one strategy that works well for breaking through a professional plateau.
By the way, making a list of work tasks and completing them throughout the day gives a sense of accomplishment and helps keep you interested in your work.
Long-term objectives, therefore, offer a broad perspective; they make us aware that all the things we are doing today will somehow help us achieve our desired career down the line. These may include a new position, acquiring competency in a particular area, or an elaborate undertaking. It is however important that these are stretch targets so that over time you can be able to attain them without compromising on enthusiasm.
Make your goals more manageable by breaking them down into smaller steps to prevent overwhelm. Remember to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Continuous work immersion will quickly result in burnout and motivation loss. Make self-care activities a priority, including hobbies, physical activity, and quality time with loved ones.
Remaining resilient and focused can be achieved by engaging in stress management and mindfulness practices. Try practicing yoga, meditation, or keeping a journal to help you stay calm and optimistic.
Volunteer Work and Side Projects
Outside of your main career, volunteering and side projects can provide you with a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Engaging in these activities can aid in skill development, and network building, and even lead to new job chances. Engaging in volunteer work enables you to utilize your strengths in diverse settings, potentially resulting in fresh understandings and viewpoints of your career potential.
Reigniting your enthusiasm and creativity can be achieved through side initiatives like blogging, starting a small business, or contributing to an open-source project.
These pursuits not only bring you personal fulfillment but also improve your resume and show prospective employers how proactive and adaptable you are.
Consider a Career Change
Sometimes, the best way to overcome a professional plateau is to consider a career change. There are always reasons not to make such a move – relationships with colleagues and management, social status, fear of change or fear of running out of money.
But if the current work does not bring satisfaction, does not align with your vision of the future and does not offer opportunities for professional development, it is worth taking a risk.
According to Ryff and Singer’s research, changing careers can have a big impact on one’s sense of self-actualization and overall life satisfaction, especially if the new employment more closely fits with their beliefs and interests.
Start by researching different industries and roles that interest you. Consider how your present knowledge and experience might apply to a different line of work.
The process of exploring new possibilities can also help to enhance a sense of purpose and personal growth, which are key components of well-being, which include personal development, self-acceptance, and meaningful engagement in life.
You can find job opportunities in your desired field on the career pages of companies that interest you or by using job boards such as Jooble.
There are always ways to get new experiences inside your company if you are not quite ready to look for work in another organization or industry. Consider taking a new position or relocating to another department. It will allow you to gain a completely different experience, meet new people and try a variety of learning possibilities without requiring a complete career transition.
Taking on new challenges in projects or getting new positions might provide you with new insights and revive your passion for your profession.
Seeking Expert Advice
I know how difficult it can be to navigate this transition on your own. Our brain is afraid of uncertainty, and this fear prevents us from living our lives to the fullest and achieving fulfillment.
Mentors and career coaches can help and encourage you on the way to pursue your goals. They may assist with everything from writing resumes and preparing for interviews to determining which career paths suit your personality.
According to research by Jones, Woods, and Guillaume, working with a career coach can lead to greater job satisfaction and professional success.
Working with a career coach, leadership coach, or mentor can also have significant psychological benefits. It may reduce your feelings of overload and isolation while also providing you with encouragement and support. Realizing that someone cares about your accomplishment might increase your confidence and motivation.
Furthermore, therapists offer a methodical approach that may assist reduce worry in the future by concentrating on realistic goals and doable actions.
With the help of a coach or mentor, it is possible to develop more emotional intelligence, a stronger sense of purpose, and better self-awareness. These qualities are essential for growth on both a personal and professional level.
Conclusion
It’s common to feel like your career has plateaued, but it can be challenging to overcome. Changing careers can be a highly effective strategy for breaking out of a professional rut and awakening your passion and purpose in work. Rather than just changing jobs or industries, it’s critical to reconnect with your passion and align your work with your values and interests.
It is essential to take the time to thoroughly evaluate and research different career options. During the exploration, you can find out what area you want to go into, what competencies are expected of you, and how to translate your previous experience to the situation at hand. There is a need to embark on as much networking as possible in this case. It can be really helpful to build friendships with experienced colleagues in the areas of your interest first in order to avoid such mistakes, gain some valuable insights, and find things that you would not have noticed on your own.
You can break through this plateau and refresh your career by setting new goals, seeking professional development, taking on side projects or volunteering, exploring new opportunities, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Professional development is a continuous journey of learning, taking initiative and embracing new challenges. Just remember that your next big achievement can be just around the corner.
Resources:
Ryff, C.D., & Singer, B. (2008). “Know Thyself and Become What You Are: A Eudaimonic Approach to Psychological Well-Being”. Journal of Happiness Studies.
Jones, R. J., Woods, S. A., & Guillaume, Y. R. (2016). “The effectiveness of workplace coaching: A meta-analysis of learning and performance outcomes from coaching.” Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
