Getting ‘Unstuck’: Turning Your Experience into Your Next Move

Feeling 'stuck' and unsure of your next career move is something we hear across our community.

And it can look different for different people. Maybe you're busy, you're doing your job well and everything is working fine. 

But then time passes… and you realise that you’re not learning much that feels new or perhaps you’re not being stretched in a way that moves you forward.
And if someone asked you what your next step is, you’re not totally sure what you’d say!

None of this is unusual - it's the sign of wanting to stretch yourself or re-prioitise. It’s where a lot of people sit at some point. But staying there too long is what makes it feel frustrating. 

So how can we get 'unstuck?' We don't always need brand new experience to take our next step...

You’re probably underselling what you already do

One thing that comes up again and again is how quick people (particularly women) are to downplay their own experience.

“I just manage a line.”
“I just support the team.”
“I just make sure everything runs.”

But if you actually break that down, it’s rarely “just” It means that you have experience making decisions under pressure, handling people, problems and priorities all at once, and keeping things moving when things don’t go to plan.

And that’s exactly the kind of experience that builds into bigger roles.

A lot of times, the gap isn’t usually capability. It’s recognising it, and talking about it in a way that others can see.

What makes you different?

What do you offer that sets you apart? What do you do that’s remarkable, measurable and distinguished? 

Some examples might be management skills, master a networking, strategic thinking, people skills, professional skills. A good place to start is the Gallup Strengths Finder which helps you understand what makes you you.

“When you have a list of your attributes and strengths, you need to practise!” Says Michelle Redfern, a fantastic career coach who we work with at MBW. “Try finishing the sentence, ‘I am known for my…’

You need to know yourself because if you don’t know yourself, you can’t communicate this to anyone else.

Now you have your attributes and your skills, you can also add in your accomplishments. “Make yourself a brag book – it might be an email folder with testimonials from customers, or a dashboard of your accomplishments, or just a list.” This helps you with ideas about to what to say when you need to self promote. For example, what is the best compliment a boss have ever given you? What training and education have you completed that helps you drive the business forward. What skills have you developed?

Being busy can quietly hold you back

In most roles being busy is seen as a good thing - you're getting things done and are dependable.

But when you’re always in delivery mode, it’s very hard to step back and think about what’s next. Instead, you just keep going!

That’s how we can end up doing the same role for longer than they expected, not because we want to, but because there’s been no space to think about anything else.

It doesn’t need a big life plan to change that. Even a small pause helps.

What parts of your job do you actually enjoy?
Where do you feel most confident?
What do people come to you for?

That’s usually where your next move starts from - and this could look like a sideways move, not just a step up the career ladder.

Progression isn’t always about doing more

A lot of people assume that if they keep working hard, progression will naturally follow. Sometimes it does. But often, it doesn’t work like that.

Especially as you move into more senior roles, it’s less about how much you do, and more about how people see you, which is the bit that can feel uncomfortable!

So being a bit more visible in the right moments can be a doorway to something new.

That might be:

• Speaking up in a meeting when you normally wouldn’t
• Sharing the outcome of something you’ve worked on
• Putting your hand up for something slightly outside your usual role

Small things, but they shift how people think about you -from someone who’s reliable… to someone who’s ready to take on a new challenge.

You don’t need to have it all figured out

If you’re earlier in your career, or just unsure what direction to take, it can feel like you’re meant to have a clear plan - but the more people we speak to, the more we realise most people haven't, and the ones who do often change it anyway.

What tends to work better is thinking one step ahead, not five.

What would stretch you a little from where you are now? (Remember - stretch you, not overwhelm you)

It could be learning something new.
Getting exposure to a different part of the business.
Having a conversation about where you’d like to go.

Those small steps are what build direction over time.

Build your ‘boardroom before the boardroom’

You don’t need access to the exec table to start thinking like you belong there.

Start building your own strategic network around you:

• Someone ahead of you who gives perspective
• Someone alongside you who keeps you accountable
• Someone junior who gives you a different lens

These conversations can really help to test your thinking and build confidence for more senior roles.

Prioritising your personal development is key!

Particularly if you work in operations, it’s easy to stay focused on the day-to-day as there is always something that needs sorting or needs attention.

Career development can feel like a “nice to have” rather than something you actually have time for.

But the people who do move forward in operations are often the ones who start to think slightly differently about their role and shifting their mindset to 'what is this role helping me towards in the future?'

That shift is subtle, but it changes what you prioritise for your development.

Getting unstuck is usually easier than you think

It’s easy to think you need a big change to feel progress again but in reality, it’s usually one small move.

Speaking up when you’d normally stay quiet.
Putting yourself forward for something.
Asking a question you’ve been sitting on.

It doesn’t feel like much at the time, but small steps make all the difference - whether you want a sideways step, or a jump up the career ladder 💪