When there is (apparently) nowhere to go

Have you found yourself in this situation, where your career options at your current place appear very limited? You are in good company, based on a survey I ran last year amongst professional women. The ‘lack of development opportunities’ was one of the main challenges faced by professional women at mid to high level. For many it feels like their paths have been squeezed out at a certain level, with limited options of where to go next. Is this you too?

First and foremost, it could actually be that there are some more options than it seems. The reason why you are not seeing them is that you are probably filtering them out based on your perceptions or beliefs. Your mind has formed a quick judgment about what roles further up look like and mean in terms of hours, workload and relationships. The issue here is that you might be discounting opportunities based on how other people behave in those jobs. You are forgetting that you get to make it yours, bringing your own management to it and choose your focus. The same role can look vastly different when held by different people – I’m sure you have seen evidence of this.

So I invite you to consider all your options – large and wide – where you are at, without limiting thoughts about what is and isn’t possible for you. What if you got to decide on your own agenda, what would look attractive to you? You might see a shift in those opportunities available to you. Check any other beliefs that you might attach to positions around and above you, regarding what you can and can’t do. Then clear those thoughts, looking with the lens of what is truly possible (rather than probable based on current judgment).

Now some of you will tell me that no matter how open-minded they are, there are simply low numbers or limited spots above them. Fair enough, when this is a fact. However linking this observation to the thought that you have nowhere to go is questionable. In my experience, there is always somewhere to go. It’s about being curious or crafty about that somewhere. If you do not think there are opportunities for you, you will feel uninspired, and less motivated. As a result you will do very little to search, create and get those opportunities.

What if you turned it around the other way? Starting with the belief that there are options for you, waiting to be unearthed. When you believe this, your energy changes and your mind starts gearing towards what it could be. You won’t know what that opportunity is or where it might come from until it starts taking shape. Because it is often organic, somewhat unpredictable and it can take so many forms. I know this for a fact because I have witnessed it in so many industries and with many of the people I have worked with.

Concretely here are some of the ways opportunities can manifest. You notice something you enjoying doing and that you could bring up to your organisation. There is a new project taking shape, a new market or client, or the need for a new process or resource. You could look at overseas opportunities in the same business. You are well connected and hear about someone moving. There is a restructure and many resources get redistributed in the air. When those opportunities show up, you want to be right there ready to throw your hat in the ring.

Finally there are some less frequent instances where a lack of opportunities persist in the place you are at. Where no matter what you tried and aimed for, it does not align for you. This my friend is a strong message that it is time to change. That you are living on borrowed time where you are, because you are destined for more. Your talents are worthy of something else. The apparent ‘no opportunities’ equals a signpost reading ‘you are so ready to grow’. This feels scary, but is really exciting at the same time when you acknowledge it.

So next time you hear yourself or someone saying ‘there is nowhere to go’, remember that you get to choose. To believe it and remain in a state of limbo, potentially getting stuck in a rut down the line. Or not to believe it and prove it true. Both avenues are possible, which one will you choose?