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Stuck in a Rut? Add Some Inspiration to Your Career

November 2005

By Jane Byrne
Staff Writer

Today, only 15% of people work in careers that use their maximum talent potential. This fact is "sad but true," according to Kathy Condon, an expert on career transitions and business communication.

"So 85% of people have somehow gotten into careers and positions that are really not totally suited for them," says Condon, president of KC Solutions, a career facilitation firm in Vancouver, Washington.

When professionals are stuck in jobs that aren't right for them, they become dissatisfied and often feel that they are stuck in a position that's not taking them anywhere.

Condon believes that people are born with at least three unique talents that they can use to their advantage. She has even developed a process through which she helps pinpoint their three talents, and although she has gone through the process hundreds of times, no one has ever come up with the exact same three talents. "We're all individuals," she says.

If a professional can use at least one of his fortes in his job, he will probably be okay with his situation, but not completely happy, Condon says. If two of his talents are being used, he will feel even better about his job. "If we're in a position where we're using all three talents [at work], we are as happy as can be," she adds. In fact, someone who is blissfully happy at work won't know where work and free time divide.

However, Condon says, "Many people have gotten into the wrong field, and that's where the uneasiness starts." Often, professionals start working in positions that suddenly require them to do things they don't like or don't have the talent to do.

Almost anyone can earn a degree, but everyone won't necessarily love his or her job. "We ignore our intuition telling us that that's not the right thing to do," Condon adds.

What To Do
If professionals are unhappy at work, they should start by taking a look at their exercise and eating habits to make sure they're healthy, Condon says. Poor living habits can affect how a person feels in every aspect of life. Second, people should ask themselves if this is what they want to be doing for the rest of their lives. "There are a lot of people who are unhappy doing what they're doing," she says. Working in the wrong industry or not using the skills one was born with is very bad for an individual's motivation and satisfaction.

Even Condon's older clients sometimes realize that they don't want to be doing their job for the 20 years that they have left in their careers, she says.

Another problem that can occur mid-career is boredom. "Most people have a need for variety in their world," Condon advises. When people are stuck doing the same tasks over and over, boredom sets in because their days are identical. A professional in this situation should do two things. First, she should tell her supervisor that she would like to change something because she needs variety. Condon also suggests that a bored individual switch the order in which she does things during the day. Mixing things up will make her day more interesting, she says.

Finally, "Human beings have a need for growth," Condon adds. If a professional is sitting in an office bored day after day, he should ask his supervisor if he can take some courses, or take classes on his own, she suggests. It's essential for professionals to continually get new training to avoid being stuck in one position or area. Also, if an individual feels that he is moving ahead and learning something, he will feel better about his situation, Condon says.

However, she stresses that if someone is working in a career that does not suit him or her, that is the biggest problem. "If they're not in the right field, none of the rest of the stuff makes any difference."

How To Make a Change
You can't switch careers overnight, Condon says. In her experience, it generally takes about two years to make a full change, although it differs from person to person.

"I think in order to make any kind of major transition like that, number one, how are you supposed to know how to do it?" she says. A certified career coach can be very helpful. A coach can motivate the person to move forward and provide tips on how to make a career change. In fact, Condon says that she regularly consults her own career coach. Family, supervisors, and friends let you slide too much, she explains. A coach will push you harder to succeed.

On the other hand, if a professional enjoys the field he works in but feels stuck in his particular job due to a lack of mobility, he should keep a list of his accomplishments, Condon says. He should update the list every two weeks, adding everything that he has achieved in that time period. It will make a bored professional feel better about himself and help him to realize how much he is actually accomplishing.

Also, she suggests that the individual observe himself in order to realize what in particular he likes to do. That way, he can go to his supervisor with proof that he's ready to move on and with enthusiasm to new challenges. Another good reason to examine your progress and your interests, Condon says, is because you may be moving forward more than you realize. "That's usually the case," she says.

Kathy Condon is a Career Facilitator, International Speaker and Trainer. She works with individuals on all aspects of career transition, including the coaching of CEOs. Her newly released CDs/Tapes “Connect with People-It’s the Little Things” and her eBook, 55 Networking Tips, can be purchased here.