When Staying Feels Off: First Steps to Considering a Career Pivot
Not sure if it’s the job or the system? Notice first, act next.
One of the most regular questions I hear is: “Should I stay or should I go?”
After noticing how group dynamics and emotional contagions affect your energy, and reflecting on the stories you tell yourself about your work, you may find yourself asking: Is this role still serving me? Am I still serving it and others through it?
Before making any big decisions, start with subtle, grounded observation, without rushing to conclusions or drastic changes.
Notice what’s misaligned
Start by observing your reactions to your work, team, or organization. Ask yourself:
Which parts of this job energize me? Which parts drain me?
Are the frustrations coming from the role itself, the context I work in, or both?
When I imagine staying here, what patterns or emotions repeat?
Separate the role from the context
Many people confuse dissatisfaction with the system (culture, policies, leadership) with dissatisfaction about the work itself.
Pausing to separate these layers gives clarity about whether a pivot is needed—or whether adjusting boundaries, workflow, or relationships might restore alignment.
These tiny, intentional exercises help you separate the role from the environment and lay the foundation for clarity about whether a pivot, or a subtle transformation, is needed.
If you’re ready for more guided support, the Stay, Go, or Transform Your Career program walks you step by step through these questions over six weeks, helping you move from uncertainty to clarity with grounded practices and reflection exercises.
Even small moments of awareness can start shifting your sense of alignment today and set the stage for thoughtful, empowered career decisions.