When you first enter the workforce, it can feel like there are endless opportunities for career growth. With a good attitude and some hard work, you should be able to continuously move up and take on new challenges. Unfortunately, not everyone experiences that sort of growth. In fact, a lot of people experience the opposite: career stagnation. To some people, the word ‘stagnation’ has negative connotations.

It makes them think of stagnant water or perhaps an uninteresting town somewhere in the middle of nowhere. However, in the right context, stagnation can actually be a sign that something is healthy and sustaining long-term growth instead of reaching peak productivity too soon and then declining again. The same principle applies to your career; when you stagnate in it, it means that you have reached a point where you aren’t challenging yourself enough and need to find ways to step outside your comfort zone in order to grow again.

Recognize the Signs of Career Stagnation

Career stagnation can occur at any point in your life, but it’s important to be aware of the signs in order to nip it in the bud before it becomes a serious problem. If you feel like you’re stagnating in your current role, there are two big indicators to look out for. The first is a decrease in motivation. If you feel like you’re no longer excited about your work and can’t think of any way to improve, you may be stuck in a rut. The second is a drop in performance. If you feel like you aren’t performing as well as you used to or are struggling to keep up with your old workload, you may be at risk of being fired or demoted.

Ask for Feedback

If you feel like your career has hit a wall and you’re not sure why, the first thing to do is ask for feedback from your manager and any trusted colleagues. They may be able to shed some light on what you could be doing better, or even help you identify which aspects of your work need to be adjusted in order for you to feel more fulfilled. Having a one-on-one meeting with your boss to discuss your progress and goals is a great way to start this process.

While there’s a risk of them telling you that things are going well, there’s also a chance that they’ll open up and admit they don’t see any path to advancement in your future at the company and are worried you may leave soon. This will give you an idea of how you can improve and help you avoid career stagnation in the future.

Change Your Mentality

If you’ve asked for feedback and been given the all-clear, one way to avoid career stagnation is to adjust your mentality toward your work. There are a few ways you can do this. One is to think about the skills you want to develop and then to try and find projects and tasks that will help you reach those goals. For example, if you’re interested in learning to speak publicly, look for opportunities to give presentations. If you want to work on your negotiation skills, try to get involved in salary discussions.

Seek Out New Skills and Experience

Another way to avoid getting stuck in a rut and ensure you continue growing in your career is to constantly be on the lookout for new skills and experiences that will help you advance your career. To do this, keep an eye out for new projects and initiatives that your company is working on, and try to get involved in as many as possible. This will show your manager that you’re dedicated to helping the company succeed and are willing to go above and beyond, which is always a plus in the eyes of a manager.

There are also online platforms that specialize in helping you find new skills and experiences. Skillshare, for example, allows you to find online classes and tutorials on a variety of subjects that can help you build up your portfolio and expand your skill set.

Network, Network, Network

Another way to avoid career stagnation is to actively network with as many people as possible and build strong relationships with people who can help advance your career. When you first enter the workforce, you probably don’t know a lot of people outside of work, so it’s easy to stay in a bubble where you only interact with the people you see on a daily basis. However, in order to break free of the stagnation cycle and start networking with people, you first have to get out of your bubble. Start by joining professional organizations in your field that let you meet and interact with people who do similar work to you.

Additional Tip: How to Handle a Passive Aggressive Boss at Work

Working for someone who is passive aggressive can be a challenging experience. In most cases, your boss will be nice and professional while leading the team and setting goals for the company. However, once you’ve left work and are no longer under their direct supervision, they might use other methods to get their point across. What does it mean to be passive aggressive? It refers to a person who appears agreeable but conceals hostility in subtle ways. This type of behavior is common among coworkers or even within families where people feel unable to express their real opinions openly. Here are some tips on how to handle a passive aggressive boss at work:

Conclusion

If you are experiencing career stagnation, don’t let it get you down. It’s normal to experience a lull in your career, but you can use it as an opportunity to grow and improve. With these tips, you can overcome career stagnation and get back on track to growth and success. When you first enter the workforce, it can feel like there are endless opportunities for career growth. With a good attitude and some hard work, you should be able to continuously move up and take on new challenges. Unfortunately, not everyone experiences that sort of growth. In fact, a lot of people experience the opposite: career stagnation.

To some people, the word ‘stagnation’ has negative connotations. It makes them think of stagnant water or perhaps an uninteresting town somewhere in the middle of nowhere. However, in the right context, stagnation can actually be a sign that something is healthy and sustaining long-term growth instead of reaching peak productivity too soon and then declining again. The same principle applies to your career; when you stagnate in it, it means that you have reached a point where you aren’t challenging yourself enough and need to find ways to step outside your comfort zone in order to grow again.