Resources
Reclaiming Your Professional Agency
Unstuck Monthly | December 2024
Are you a passive observer or an active participant in your own career?
Hi Friend!
I turned 40 last week! It was a lovely milestone birthday with celebrations spread out across the month and culminating in some lovely, heartwarming birthday messages from family, friends, and colleagues. I’m looking forward to maturing, growing wiser, and graying a little bit. Maybe one day soon, 🤞🏼😉!
Welcome to December’s Unstuck Monthly. Highlights in this issue:
Sticking Points: As we close out 2024 and look ahead to the new year, there's no denying that many of us are feeling stuck, unhappy, and uncertain about the future. Recent data paints a concerning picture: Gallup reports record-low employee wellbeing, with only 50% of U.S. workers report they are thriving, while Glassdoor finds that nearly two-thirds of professionals feel stuck in their current roles.
Self-Determination Compass Assessment: I invite you to take a new assessment that I developed to help identify our strengths and growth areas related to self-determination and to start the process of getting unstuck. The results provide a structured framework to start honest conversations about what needs attention in your professional life. Take the assessment here.
Group Coaching Cohort: In addition to working with corporate millennials (and likemindeds), I also work with expat spouses who, like me, have redefined professional ambitions while living abroad. I’m launching two new group coaching cohorts to support vision setting, enhancing motivation, and stoking motivation. Learn more about group coaching.
Webinar Recap: I hosted another successful interactive webinar in mid-December on using self-determination to navigate professional challenges. For those who missed it – or want to revisit the concepts – the replay is available until December 30. Watch the replay.
Thank you for sticking with me!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Alex
Sticking Points
Goodbye, 2024!
As we look at 2024 in the rearview mirror, the data paints a concerning picture about our collective professional well-being. Recent Gallup research shows record-low employee wellbeing, with only 50% of U.S. employees report that they are thriving in their overall lives – the lowest since measurements began in 2009. The rest of us are struggling or suffering. Stress, worry, anger, and sadness remain stubbornly above pre-pandemic levels (Gallup).
This emotional toll aligns with Glassdoor's findings that nearly two-thirds (65%) of professionals feel "stuck" in their current roles. The sentiment is particularly pronounced in tech (73% report feeling trapped), consulting (69%), and among women (68% experience this stagnation compared to 62% of men).
The numbers confirm what many feel: the pandemic-era Great Resignation has given way to a period of professional inertia, un-fondly referred to as the Great Stay. The U.S. quit rate has fallen to 1.9%, the first time it has fallen below 2% since June 2020. While this appears to be a boon for organizational stability, it is a bane for individual growth opportunities.
As we look toward 2025, one thing becomes clear: waiting for external rescue – whether from employers, economic shifts, or policy changes – is increasingly unrealistic. The data suggests that those who will thrive in 2025 will be those who take ownership of their professional growth, leveraging self-determination principles to navigate challenges and create opportunities, regardless of external circumstances.
What’s your plan to get unstuck in 2025?
If you need help getting started, let's find time to chat about it.
A Deeper Look
The Great Stay: When Moving On Isn't Moving Up
Recent data shows more professionals staying put, but not by choice. With 17% of job changers seeing pay cuts in 2024 and 32% of former managers stepping down a level, the Great Stay demands a new playbook for professional growth on our own terms.
Building Community in an Era of Disconnect
When feeling stuck, our professional community can be our lifeline. Research shows that genuine connections not only satisfy our fundamental need for relatedness but also open doors to new opportunities. The key is shifting from transactional networking to intentional community building.
From the Network
Through recent conversations with clients and friends, I've noticed two recurring themes about our struggle to have honest conversations with ourselves:
The Quitting Question. “What's the difference between acknowledging something is no longer a good fit and failing at it?” a client recently asked. It’s a powerful question that cuts to the heart of how we view our professional choices. The answer lies not in the outcome, but in our autonomy to make conscious decisions about our path forward. When we’re truly honest with ourselves, we can distinguish between a genuine mismatch and a fear of failure.
The Identity Puzzle. Another common struggle emerges around professional identity. Many of us grapple with what we want to be known for or how we want to be seen by peers and leaders. Without clarity about who we are and what we stand for, it becomes impossible to take coordinated action toward becoming that person. We end up reacting to others' expectations rather than acting from our authentic selves.
So what… Both challenges point to a deeper truth about self-determination: taking control of our professional lives starts with the ability to have honest conversations with ourselves. Sometimes, we need a thought partner to help us navigate these conversations and uncover our authentic truths.
If you're finding it challenging to have these honest conversations with yourself, consider working with a coach who can help you explore these questions and chart your path forward.
What resonates with you in these themes? I'd love to hear your experience.
Worth Exploring
The Self-Determination Compass Assessment
Want to understand where you stand on autonomy, competence, and relatedness in your professional life?
The Self-Determination Compass Assessment measures nine dimensions across these core needs – from aligning to purpose and creating value, to developing skills and building community.
I developed this bespoke assessment to help my clients identify their strengths and growth areas, providing a structured framework to start those honest conversations about what needs attention in your professional life.
Feeling stuck? This assessment is your first step toward breaking free.
Happenings
Launching Expat Group Coaching Cohorts | January-March 2025
Ready to break free from professional inertia while navigating life abroad?
Join our upcoming group coaching cohorts designed specifically for expat professionals. Over six weeks, you’ll develop a renewed vision for your professional life, build self-awareness, strengthen your motivational toolkit using self-determination principles, and join a supportive community of peers.
Two cohorts are available: virtual or in-person (Suva, Fiji).
Webinar Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined the December webinar on using self-determination to navigate professional challenges.
For those who missed it – or want to revisit the concepts – the replay is available until December 30.
We explored how only 23% of employees globally are engaged at work and practical strategies for breaking free from feeling stuck, including aligning work with purpose, understanding your unique value creation, and building the skills needed for change.
Watch the replay | Schedule a Consultation
WD-40 for Your Mind
When work is tough or unsatisfying, we process our experiences through humor and look for inspiration wherever we can find it.
Like WD-40 unsticks door hinges, may this and future quips help unstick your brain.
It’s Not (Totally) Your Fault
While burnout can feel overwhelming, the truth is it often stems from certain factors within our control.
By recognizing the true sources of our burnout – mismatched goals, unsupportive colleagues, and rigid systems – we can start to take back agency and find more fulfilling ways to invest our time and energy.
The first step is acknowledging what's truly within our control and then doing something about it.
You've survived another month. What's next for you?
Great conversations start with shared insights. My coaching practice, like this newsletter, thrives on connections – if you know someone who's navigating their own sticking points, I'd love for you to share this with them.
