Are you sleepwalking through your career? Here’s how to avoid missed opportunities and fulfil your potential
Career sleepwalking is a state of disengagement, complacency, and lack of purpose, where individuals go through the motions of their professional lives without actively steering their careers toward their desired goals and aspirations. As a seasoned HR executive and career coach, I’ve observed many mid-level and senior leaders unknowingly sleepwalking through their careers. Success and higher positions can sometimes lead to complacency and a lack of purpose. Our past achievements and the comfort of our roles can create a false sense of security, making us all the more susceptible.
I, too, have fallen victim to the perils of career sleepwalking. As a vice president at a respected company, I found myself content with my achievements and comfortable lifestyle. It wasn’t until a pivotal conversation with my boss, who asked if I aspired to become the head of HR, that I realized I had been limiting my beliefs about what I could achieve. This wake-up call forced me to confront the risks of remaining in my comfort zone and failing to plan for potential career curveballs. I recognized that sleepwalking jeopardized my ability to attain my full potential, prepare for unexpected changes, and maintain my relevance in an ever-evolving industry.
A path to obsolescence
As industries transform at an unprecedented pace, failing to actively steer your career can lead to stagnant skills, reduced job satisfaction, and missed opportunities. Career sleepwalking is a path to obsolescence in a world where agility and continuous learning are essential.
The Covid-19 pandemic awakened many of us to a greater awareness of what truly matters to us in life and how work fits into that picture. With a growing desire for more purpose, meaning, control, and flexibility in our careers, career agility has emerged as a critical skill. As careers become longer – with some experts suggesting that 60-year careers may become the norm – the likelihood of working for multiple companies increases. Failing to prepare for critical career inflection points can lead to suboptimal decision-making, negatively impacting your career trajectory, overall fulfillment, and personal wellbeing.
Historically, sleepwalking in our careers might have been more acceptable once you reached mid-level or senior positions, as many companies had robust organizational structures with predefined career ladders. However, with the evolution of flatter organizational structures and less prescribed career paths, the burden of career ownership now falls more heavily on the individual. To avoid sleepwalking, we must actively carve our career paths, seek opportunities, and proactively manage our professional growth.
Strategies to avoid career sleepwalking
So, how can you break free from the shackles of career sleepwalking and take ownership of your professional journey? Here are seven key strategies I recommend.
1. Cultivate self-awareness
Regularly engage in self-reflection and seek feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors or coaches. This practice will help you stay attuned to your values, strengths and aspirations, ensuring you’re actively steering your career in a meaningful direction.
2. Set challenging goals
Push yourself out of your comfort zone by setting ambitious yet achievable goals that promote continuous learning and growth.
3. Embrace ownership
Actively seek opportunities to make a meaningful impact within your organization. Take the initiative to lead projects, mentor others, or contribute to strategic decisions that shape your company’s future.
4. Foster a growth mindset
Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Don’t shy away from calculated risks; view failures as valuable lessons for growth.
5. Continuous skill development
In today’s fast-paced business environment, continuous skill development is paramount to staying relevant and adaptable. Invest in learning opportunities that align with your long-term goals and the evolving needs of your industry.
6. Building strong networks
Building solid professional networks and strategic relationships is another essential aspect of avoiding career sleepwalking. Engage in meaningful networking and collaborate with others to unlock new possibilities and gain diverse perspectives.
7. Seek mentorship and support
Surround yourself with mentors, coaches and peers who can offer fresh perspectives, challenge your assumptions, and help you navigate the complexities of your career.
These strategies are equally crucial for senior and mid-level leaders aspiring to long-term career success and fulfillment. Unlocking our full career potential is not just a nice thing to have; it’s a critical component of our overall fulfillment, happiness and wellbeing at work, which impacts many areas of our lives. When we sleepwalk through our careers, we miss opportunities for growth, impact and satisfaction.
Unlocking our true potential requires continuous and deep self-reflection, a well-crafted learning strategy, and the willingness to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone.
Take a moment to reflect on your career path. Are you engaged and fulfilled, or are you merely going through the motions? If you’re sleepwalking, remember that it’s never too late to take control and make a change. Embrace proactive preparation and self-reflection, and you’ll be well-equipped to make optimal, fulfilling career decisions – even in the face of the unexpected challenges that will inevitably come your way.
Your career is a journey, not a destination. By staying awake, engaged and purposeful at every stage, you’ll achieve greater success and more profound meaning and satisfaction in your professional life. Your future self will thank you.
