Why feeling deadlocked in your career isn't always a bad sign

Many employees find themselves feeling stagnant at work at the start of a new year - even when things are objectively stable. According to research in adult education and development, this is not always a sign of burnout or dissatisfaction. On the contrary, it can indicate internal professional growth.

Career development researcher Leda Stavnykhko writes about this in an article for The Conversation.

Why feeling stagnant isn't always a bad sign

The end of the year and the beginning of January often throw people out of their usual rhythm: fewer meetings, a slower work pace and time to rethink. During this period, many people begin to feel both proud of what they've achieved and uncomfortable with the feeling that their current role no longer meets their internal expectations.

Scholars call this state the "disorienting dilemma " - the moment when a person's internal development begins to outpace their external circumstances. This imbalance, while unsettling, is considered an important catalyst for learning and change.

According to experts, the desire for change at this point is a rational reaction rather than a sign of ingratitude or lack of motivation.

Where professional anxiety comes from

Experts advise to first understand the source of dissatisfaction:

• the job itself,

• the team and relationships with colleagues,

• or the corporate culture as a whole.

If the environment is generally supportive, growth doesn't necessarily require quitting. Research shows that many employees stay with companies because of strong relationships, flexibility and what is known as "job embeddedness" - a combination of social, financial and psychological factors.

In such cases, new opportunities may open up through dialogue with management: participation in challenging projects, expanded areas of responsibility or additional training.

What to do if growth is not possible in your current position

If staying in the current role starts to hold back development, experts advise either revising the conditions within the company or gradually preparing for the next career stage.

The key step is to reassess priorities. What was important at the beginning of a career (salary, status, speed of growth) may eventually give way to flexible schedules, meaningful work, stability or opportunities to learn.

Why it's important to think in terms of tasks rather than positions

Career counsellors recommend focusing less on job titles and more on the actual activities a person does each day.

A useful benchmark is tasks that a person is willing to do even without pay. They often indicate intrinsic motivation and strengths. This approach helps to choose directions for development more precisely and avoid disappointment from "beautiful" positions with inappropriate content.

Small steps instead of abrupt decisions

Preparing for the next career stage can start with small and safe steps: additional projects, volunteering, training or side activities. These gradually close the gap between current skills and the demands of the desired role.

Experts emphasise that feeling stagnant is not a signal to panic, but an invitation to develop. For many people, it is the beginning of a new professional phase.