Stuck? Try These Four Things To Shift Gears
Suppose a career curveball hits you unexpectedly one day. Do you…
a) Panic and let all hell break loose?
b) Take a deep breath, change your state and tackle the challenge.
c) Find somewhere to hide and wait until the storm passes.
If you answered a or c, we need to talk….urgently.
Ask anyone who’s fielded a career curveball (myself included) and how much it impacted them at the time. Then, ask them how they would deal with it if one struck again. Chances are, they’re more uncertainty smart.
Imagine the Following
Jules was at a crossroads in his career. He was a successful banker who had risen to the ranks at a prestigious Investment Bank in NYC. Upon becoming a Senior Banker, he relocated to London and was recently approached by headhunters to head up a fast-growing FinTech company in the city.
On the surface of it, Jules had a great life. He’d also succeeded in New York and proved himself quickly in London. Jules was living what others would call ‘the dream’. He bought a lovely new flat in Kensington last year with his bonus, and things were looking up for him professionally, but he was struggling with his personal life.
The years were finally catching up on him, and instead of gassing on the Career accelerator, he wanted to slow down. However, slowing down in Banking was not an option, especially as he expected to exceed senior managerial expectations.
On the way back to his flat one evening, he started to think about the next few years. Would he stay in London or return to New York, where his parents lived in New Jersey? He’d been going out with Ali for a few months, and she was a born and bred Londoner, though not particularly keen on the US. Things looked good, but it was too early to say whether a marriage was on the cards. However, it felt suitable for him.
Ali’s friend Sam and they’d all gone out last Sunday lunch. Interestingly, Sam mentioned he worked with many bankers. Jules jokingly mentioned he needed to change jobs but wasn’t sure if it was the right move. Sam told him he’d send Jules an article by his friend Pervin (an Executive Coach) on being stuck.
Sam stuck to his words and did it via email the following morning. Jules read it in his Uber on his way to work. Jules wasn’t interested in the 21st-century woo-woo guru spiel but was surprised by Pervin’s article. In it, she talked about the Mind or, as Sam called it, ‘The Powerhouse.’.
Your Powerhouse
The article started with, ‘How you define a problem determines how you solve it’ In banking, Jules was trained to do that. He continued reading.
The brain is highly adaptable and responds well to being challenged through learning and problem-solving. Engaging in activities that challenge the brain can help to improve cognitive function and may even have protective effects against age-related mental decline.
Some research suggests that regularly engaging in activities that challenge the brain, such as puzzles, games, and learning new skills, can help to keep the brain active and healthy. It is essential to find engaging and enjoyable activities, as this can make it more likely that you will continue to challenge their brain regularly.
Trial and error is a common and effective way to learn and improve. It involves trying different approaches or methods, observing the results, and adjusting your strategy based on learning.
This process can help you find the best solution to a problem or help you develop new skills and abilities. However, you must trust the process and believe your efforts and mistakes will ultimately lead to progress and success.
It’s essential to be patient and persistent, keep an open mind, and be willing to learn from your experiences.
The article highlighted four ways to shift gears when feeling stuck.
- Take A Break
Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results doesn’t help. Neither is overthinking, which makes it challenging to make decisions. Once in this mindset, we get stuck in analysis paralysis, weighing every option and scenario but never committing to a course of action.
Additionally, it’s essential to watch out for the choice of words one uses. Back off with the ‘I should’ve, could’ve, would’ve’ narrative. Why? You’ll land in a mental jail very quickly.
If in doubt, go for a walk because it helps stop overthinking and focus on the surroundings. Walking helps to shift perspective.
2. Try Something Completely Different
Sometimes, when faced with a problem, it’s easier to spend more time thinking about it, thus getting emotionally attached to the outcome. Break it up and change the activity. Why? You’ll rewire your internal powerhouse circuit, potentially firing the thinking cylinders.
If you have a hobby, spend some time on this instead. Why? It will help the powerhouse whir away in the background and start thinking of possibilities.
3. Collaborate
Reflection helps you recognise when you’re over your head and need external input. By understanding your limitations, you can seek help proactively, whether it’s advice from a mentor or support from a colleague, leading to more informed and well-rounded decisions.
If it’s personal, find someone you trust. If it’s professional, maybe you could collaborate with one of your team members. If in doubt, get a coach.
4. Prioritise learning and personal growth
We all know that learning is essential for personal and professional growth. Smart people know that learning comes in many forms, and they see learning in everything.
It allows them to acquire new skills, knowledge, and perspectives, leading to improved performance and more significant opportunities for advancement. Additionally, continuous learning helps them stay current and adapt to changes in their field.
One of the benefits of learning is the ability to look for opportunities to take on new challenges and responsibilities or to improve processes or systems in your workplace.
What did Jules end up doing?
Jules took a break during the weekend and tried something completely different, as mentioned in the article, and found it useful. It helped him spend less time thinking about the ‘what if’ scenarios, which is what he was doing previously.
He phoned the headhunter on Monday and said he’d be willing to talk to the company at this stage, but it was exploration.
Jules hadn’t decided about the new job opportunity, although he was seriously considering it. It didn’t matter what happened with Ali. He would deal with it when the time was right. This freed up some mind space to think about his future career roadmap.
Parting Comments
So, if you ever find yourself at a career crossroads like Jules, remember these four things to shift gears:
- Take A Break. Step back from the chaos, walk, and clear your Mind. Overthinking only leads to analysis paralysis. Trust the process and give your Mind some space to breathe.
- Try Something Completely Different. Break the cycle of overthinking by engaging in activities that stimulate your Mind in new ways. Pursue hobbies, explore new interests, and allow your internal powerhouse to fire up with fresh perspectives.
- Collaborate. Don’t hesitate to seek external input when you’re feeling stuck. Whether seeking advice from a trusted mentor or collaborating with colleagues, pooling resources can lead to more informed decisions and breakthroughs.
- Prioritise Learning and Personal Growth. Embrace continuous learning as a tool for personal and professional development. Stay curious, seek out new challenges, and never stop expanding your skills and knowledge.
Remember, uncertainty is a part of life, but how you navigate it defines your journey. Be open to change, embrace challenges, and trust your ability to adapt and thrive.
You, too, can navigate your career curveballs with confidence and resilience, just like Jules.
Thank you for your attention.
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Pervin
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