Climbing the ladder. Getting a raise. Taking on greater responsibility. These are the aims of every forward-thinking, success-minded worker. But at some point, every career levels out, and there are no more mountains to scale, or ladders to climb. While for some, it might temporarily be a welcome breather on their journey, many others start to feel stagnant as they face an increasingly unchallenging role without hope for promotions—and visions begin to fail.
If your career is at a plateau, here are 6 things you should be doing to bust through the rut and keep your career moving forward.
1. Get a mentor
Connect with a professional you admire, or
find a mentor in the field or role you aspire to and learn what they know, and how they got to where they are. They can lend valuable perspective and help you see the details that you might be missing to help you revamp your career. They’ve likely been exactly where you are, and overcome. Now they are living proof that there’s more than what you see in the present.
2. Go for the gold
You’ve worked hard to get to the top. While things may look a little bleak from here on out, don’t slip in your resolve to be the best you can be in whatever you do. Give 100% every time to maintain your image and keep your passions burning brightly.
Become the leader you want to be, regardless of what your job description states.
3. Look for opportunities
While you might feel unchallenged and bored at work, you don’t have to wither away. Continue giving your all at work, and find outside opportunities to keep growing and expanding your knowledge and skills. From books, audios and online courses, to volunteerism, workshops and seminars. Find a way to enhance your knowledge and put skills into practice to
avoid becoming a nihilist on the job.
4. Discover your ‘why’
When everything you’ve built seems to be flat lining around you, getting back to the basics and discovering your driving reasons behind what you’re doing can reset your vision and provide direction. Simon Sinek’s
TED Talk on the subject has gone down in history as one of the most inspiring talks for the success-minded individuals. Tap into your values, hopes and dreams, and what is important to you on the job to
remind you what really matters, and help you direct your focus and your next move.
5. Meet people
If you can’t make your present role work for you, it might be time to start thinking about moving on to a new company.
Start networking and building up your professional base. A report by ABC News showed that 80% of jobs come through knowing the right people, and if you’re serious about continuing your upward climb in a new company, it’s crucial to
start making the right connections now.
6. Move laterally to stay challenged
Moving forward doesn’t always mean moving upward. If you love your company, but find there’s little room for growth,
challenge yourself by moving into a new role, laterally. Expand your skills and knowledge base to tap into new opportunities around you. Dive deeper into your skill-set. Hone hard and soft skills you may have left at the wayside.
No matter what direction your career takes you, the key is to keep moving. The moment you stop challenging yourself and let the woes of the plateau overtake your vision is the moment you’ve resigned yourself to career failure and oblivion. Stay relevant. Stay challenged. And most of all, keep moving.
