When being stuck in a job or other routine starts to hurt it’s time for a change. But how can you choose the right change and find the courage to face it?
At some point, it happens to all of us: we’re going around in circles getting nowhere. Initiatives fall flat. Passion is lacking, we feel purposeless and we’re waiting…waiting…for something to change.
It’s called being stuck.
While it might feel easier to stay stuck in a familiar situation than to deal with change, eventually, being stuck starts to hurt.
That pain, says Angela Sebaly, author of the new book The Courageous Leader (Wiley, March 2017) and CEO of Personify Leadership, is the sting of your life kicking you out and telling you it’s time to move on from a stagnant situation.
But how do you move on from a familiar situation – no matter how stagnant – and face the unknown that change implies? Angela offers this blueprint for getting unstuck when when life kicks you out – whether from a stagnant job, relationship, or other routine:
Recognize that pain is a healthy part of leadership and life.
First, know that feeling the pain of stagnation is healthy because it’s a signal that change is needed. Additionally, in times of growth and transition, things often get worse before they get better. Embracing this takes courage and may cause discomfort, but doing so will bring the reward of growth and evolution.
Assess whether the change you need involves:
- Moving on by changing jobs, starting a business or relocating to a new city; or
- Going deeper with your current life experiences by taking them to the next level.
Ask the right question
Rather than asking, “Should I stay in this role (this company, this relationship, this community), or should I move on?” Ask, “What will bring me the greatest growth that is in my control to change?”
Seek clarity, not absolute certainty.
Ambiguity is uncomfortable, but expecting absolute certainty can send you spiraling into an abyss of doubt rather than saving you from it. Seek clarity instead by acknowledging that the uncertainty is painful. This will help you get through to the answers on the other side.
Be patient.
The process may take time, but if you stick with it, it will resolve and new doors will open.
