Career Challenge Management Techniques

Throughout my flying career, I was surrounded by the greatest fighter pilots in the world. I felt privileged to learn and fly with them, but I often felt out of my element. As I joined these high performing teams, my inner critic regularly told me I wasn't good enough, which made me hesitate and second-guess how I showed up. Luckily, I learned that self-doubt wasn't a reflection of my potential, but an emotion to acknowledge. Here's what I discovered along the way: 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 - an internal narrative. Once you learn to recognize and challenge these thoughts, you open doors to new possibilities. You'll find yourself taking on challenges you previously thought impossible, leading to: • Increased confidence • Career advancement • A sense of fulfillment 💡 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹. Start by keeping a thought journal for a week: • Write down any negative self-talk you notice. • Look for patterns like "I'm not good enough" or "I'll probably fail." • Challenge these thoughts by looking at the evidence. Often, you'll find these beliefs aren't based on facts. 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. When faced with a challenging task, instead of thinking, "I can't do this," try, "This is a chance to learn something new." • Set small, achievable goals related to the challenge. • Acknowledge small victories. • Seek feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors to gain new perspectives. Remember, just like I learned to trust my abilities in the cockpit, you too can overcome self-doubt. It's a journey, but with each step, you're building the confidence. << What advice would you give for someone dealing with crippling self-doubt? >> ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this.

80% of us struggle with negative self-talk (NSF). It's a bad habit that can kill your career. Most of us don't see the signs, but the impact is real. Negative self-talk can mean: ❌ You don't go for the promotion ❌ You shrink from opportunities ❌ You struggle to finish work ❌ You tolerate bad behavior ❌ You lose your confidence ❌ You don't take initiative Then before you realize it, your career has stalled. One year into terrible job, I heard an inner voice and it startled me. It said, "There's no way you can do this." The next thought I had was a quote from Henry Ford: "Think you can? Think you can't? Either way you're right." Yikes! That got my attention. I wish I could say that was that, and I turned it all around. Nope, because negative self-talk is a habit. But I did work on changing the narrative whenever I caught myself. Here's how I started (Based on Richard Schwartz's IFS theory): 1. Give the voice a name and a persona ↳ Mine is Betty the Bully 2. Identify the persona's positive motive ↳ Betty wanted to stop me from taking on so much 3. Talk to them as a real person ↳ Whenever Betty shows up, I listen and thank her. Then I tell her I've got it. 4. Give them something else to do ↳ I like to ask for help with keeping me on task when I need a nudge. 5. Replace the negative talk with a positive alternative ↳ "There's no way you can do this," becomes, "I'm going to give this my best effort" Lather, rinse, repeat. I've gotten good at this, and it's become a game to come up with a positive reframe that doesn't sound artificial. Betty's voice has gotten quieter and her presence in my life has gotten smaller. I know she will always be there, and I know when she shows up that she's only trying to protect. Sometimes she's even right! What strategies do you use to handle your inner critic? Share them below 👇 ♻️ Repost to help others quiet their negative voice 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career insights 📌DM me if you're navigating career challenges.

You won't always have a leader who works, communicates or has the same visions as you, so it’s important you learn to manage up to close the gaps. In my own experience, I learned what not to do from some of my leaders from watching them and experiencing their behaviors. Some of the leaders I struggled with the most forced me to reckon with my own shortcomings, like withholding my wants and needs, under communicating my business plans, and honing my desire to act first and ask for permission later ;) It’s important to learn the skills to effectively manage up: 1️⃣ Clarity: In your communication, goals, preferences and blind spots Tell your leader: ▫️How you prefer feedback, what your career goals are, how often you prefer communication and how, your pet peeves. Ask your leader: ▫️How they prefer feedback, what success looks like in their eyes, how often they desire communication from you and how, their pet peeves and what you can avoid. 2️⃣ Compassion: No one is perfect, we all have blind spots. Consider this: How would you treat your leader if you truly believed they were doing the best they could with the resources they've been given? 3️⃣ Curiosity: What can we learn from this that helps us grow? Ask yourself: ▫️What new approach do I need to try? ▫️What's in my control and what action steps need to be taken? At the end of the day it's important to remember that if your leader was perfect, it wouldn't give YOU the opportunity to use your unique skills and talents to fill the gap.

How to handle a difficult boss: My advice to someone dealing with a toxic boss is usually simple: Leave. Life's too short to spend years under someone who limits your growth. But of course, that's not always possible right away. It takes time to line up your next role, Plan a thoughtful exit, And keep relationships intact as you go. So until then, you need to manage upward. Figure out what makes your boss difficult, And adapt your approach to protect your sanity: (See graphic for more details) 1. Micromanagers ↳They want to review every detail and rarely show trust ↳Tip: Share regular progress updates so they feel informed without asking 2. Absent Leaders ↳They're hard to reach, always in meetings, and give little direction ↳Tip: Send short emails with the key decision points they need to weigh in on 3. Credit Takers ↳They present your work as their own and overlook your contributions ↳Tip: Keep clear records (emails, files, slides) that show your role in the work 4. Volatile ↳They have unpredictable moods, snapping or lashing out under stress ↳Tip: Stay calm and neutral so you don't escalate the situation 5. Indecisive ↳They change direction often and struggle to commit to choices ↳Tip: Narrow the options down to two or three and suggest the one you recommend 6. Overwhelmed ↳They juggle too much, miss details, and forget follow-ups ↳Tip: Make it simple for them with one-line summaries, bullet points, and clear asks 7. Favoritism ↳They give select people better projects and more leeway than others ↳Tip: Focus on consistently delivering strong work rather than competing for attention 8. Vision-Only ↳They talk big-picture ideas but leave out the practical steps ↳Tip: Translate their vision into concrete tasks and confirm that's the direction they want 9. Insecure ↳They feel threatened by capable team members and downplay their strengths ↳Tip: Acknowledge their contributions publicly so they feel more secure 10. Rule-Obsessed ↳They cling tightly to process, resisting anything that feels new ↳Tip: Frame new ideas as small, low-risk experiments instead of major changes 11. Chronic Procrastinators ↳They delay decisions, create last-minute rushes, and thrive on urgency ↳Tip: Notice their patterns and prepare your part in advance when possible 12. Conflict-Avoidant ↳They avoid hard conversations, preferring harmony over accountability ↳Tip: Invite direct feedback by saying you want honesty, even if it's tough to hear The truth: you probably won't change them. But these tactics can help you navigate things while you plan your move - And spot red flags before you sign up with your next manager. Have you had to manage your manager before? --- ♻️ Repost to support others who might be in a tough spot. And follow me George Stern for more practical workplace tips.

Your boss micromanaging you isn’t the problem. Your reaction is the reason you’re stuck. Most people get defensive: “Why don’t you trust me?” “Stop breathing down my neck.” That’s amateur thinking. Because micromanagement isn’t about you. It’s your boss protecting their own status, reputation, and risk. While you’re complaining, someone else is getting promoted by the same “difficult” boss. Here’s the leverage play: Solve their problem → buy freedom for yourself. Less oversight = bigger projects = more visibility = promotion. Scripts that flip the game: ❌ “Stop breathing down my neck.” ✅ “What updates would give you visibility, so I can keep momentum?” ❌ “You’re checking everything I do.” ✅ “Which milestones matter most to you, so I can focus my effort there?” ❌ “Why don’t you trust me?” ✅ “What would build your confidence, so I can run this end-to-end?” ❌ “You’re slowing me down.” ✅ “Could we set weekly check-ins, so I can deliver results without interruptions?” ❌ “Do you need to review every little thing?” ✅ “Which parts do you want to stay close to, so I can fully own the rest?” ❌ “Can you just let me do my job?” ✅ “Would a short summary give you confidence, so I can focus on execution?” Notice the pattern? You’re solving their problem, not pushing yours onto them. Most employees fight micromanagement and stall out. Leaders lower their boss’s anxiety—and earn the freedom to take on more. Promotion isn’t about doing your job better. It’s about making your boss’s job easier. 👉 What’s one move you’ve used to turn a difficult boss into an ally? Want more scripts like this? Follow me ( Karin Fourie ) for career playbooks that turn tough situations into promotion opportunities.

Your safe job quietly kills your career growth. Comfort feels good. But it's costly. Every day in that safe role chips away at your potential. The truth hurts: Real stability comes from growing, not hiding. I understand. Job security feels precious. 69% of professionals are scared these days. But here's hope: Small shifts create big changes. No dramatic moves needed. Here are 7 actions to escape career stagnation: 1. Master Rare Skills 💬 "I'm waiting to find my passion first..." ➟ Focus on valuable skills your industry needs. ➟ Learn one uncommon skill using company resources. 💡 The market rewards rare abilities, not enthusiasm. Try: List 3 skills your industry struggles to find. 2. Build a Mentor Network 💬 "If only I had someone to guide me..." ➟ Pick experts for specific skills you want. ➟ Schedule focused learning sessions. 💡 Multiple mini-mentors beat one guru. Try: Reach out to one person who excels at something you want to learn. 3. Recycle Career Skills 💬 "My past experience doesn't matter here..." ➟ Reuse old skills in new contexts. ➟ Turn past roles into future advantages. 💡 Career changers often outperform single-track experts. Try: Write down 3 skills from your past that could help in your current role. 4. Create Success Stories 💬 "Nobody notices my work..." ➟ Document weekly wins. ➟ Share achievements strategically. 💡 Visibility requires intentional communication. Try: Start a "wins" note on your phone today. 5. Skip Traditional Credentials 💬 "Maybe I need another degree..." ➟ Choose real projects over certificates. ➟ Share insights online instead. 💡 Experience beats expensive degrees. Try: Start one small industry project this week. 6. Break Down Career Blocks 💬 "Everything feels stuck..." ➟ Separate issues: learning, growth, balance. ➟ Solve one problem at a time. 💡 Small fixes create momentum. Try: identify one specific career pain point to tackle first. 7. Plan Like a Strategist 💬 "I keep busy but go nowhere..." ➟ Study successful colleagues. ➟ Copy what works. 💡 Progress comes from strategy, not random action. Try: Observe one successful person's habits this week. --- You deserve better than career quicksand. Small actions today create big wins tomorrow. Security AND growth can coexist. Which action will you start with? Document your journey. Review monthly. Stay aware. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please add your take in the comments ⬇️ ♻️ And repost if this resonated with you!

Stop disqualifying yourself from jobs. Start connecting your transferable skills instead 👇🏼 A hard truth I've learned from years as a career coach: Most qualified candidates never apply because they focus on what they lack instead of what they bring. Last month, I worked with Alex who wanted to transition into project management but kept saying "I don't have PM experience." Wrong mindset. This thinking keeps amazing candidates on the sidelines while less qualified (but more confident) people get hired. I helped Alex reframe his background using 3 strategies that landed him 2 offers: ✅ 1 // Map your transferable skills to their actual needs. Don't focus on job titles—focus on problems you've solved. Alex coordinated cross-functional teams, managed budgets, and delivered complex initiatives on time. That's project management, just without the official title. ✅ 2 // Highlight measurable achievements that translate across industries. We repositioned his "event coordination" as "managed $500K budgets and 50+ stakeholders to deliver projects 2 weeks ahead of schedule." Suddenly, his experience looked relevant. ✅ 3 // Reach out to decision makers before jobs are posted. Instead of waiting for perfect job postings, Alex researched target companies and connected with department heads on LinkedIn. He shared insights about challenges they were facing. The result? Two interviews for positions that were never advertised publicly. Both companies extended offers. They were impressed at how well he communicated his experience. The unfortunate reality is most people eliminate themselves from opportunities before employers ever get the chance to. Remember: Companies hire people who can solve their problems, not people with perfect resumes. 📌 Question: What's a role you've talked yourself out of applying for? What transferable skills do you actually have?

I decided to start the week with this. I’ve discovered that for experienced professionals, some things seem like platitudes. But for folks who are still feeling their way through their career, and “adulting" the right type of guidance helps. You feel overwhelmed at work & are not doing tasks you like. Unmotivated & frustrated, you're uncertain if you should quit, pursue a master’s program, or start your own business. But even that is confusing! Sounds familiar? Here is how I recommend you get out of that rut. 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: It's okay not knowing everything. The key is to embrace learning & keep growing each day. Accept that it's fine to make mistakes, provided you learn from them. It's part of the learning curve. 2) 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: SMART= specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at my job," say, "I want to improve my sales numbers by X% in Q3." This gives you a clear target and a way to measure your progress. 3) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 Y𝐨𝐮𝐫 G𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Have clear, tangible goals and visualize them daily. They serve as your signal in times of uncertainty and remind you what your targets are. 4) 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While motivation is a can aid action, it fluctuates. Discipline, on the other hand, keeps you going even when motivation wanes. Discipline is committing to your goals and working towards them, 5) 𝐀𝐜𝐭!: Instead of waiting for the perfect plan, take action based on the information you have. Be willing to adjust your approach as you gain new insights, moving closer to your goals with each step forward. 6) 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. This can give you insight into areas where you can improve. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of you as a person but a tool to help you improve. 7) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬: Maintain a sense of curiosity about your work and field. This can lead to a deeper understanding and open new avenues for growth. Ask questions, do research, & always strive to know more. 8) 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Building relationships can be beneficial. You can learn from experiences, get advice, & discover opportunities you would not have otherwise found. Don't be afraid to connect with others. 9) 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Everyone has days they feel inadequate. It's part of being human. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, approach these situations objectively. 10) 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞: Work is important, but so is the rest of your life. Ensure you have work-life balance. This prevents burnout & keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Relax. Spend time with loved ones. Remember, personal & professional development is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. Embrace the process, stay resilient, & enjoy the fulfillment that comes from progress and achievement. Have a great week. Davidson 

In this unpredictable job market, many professionals feel stuck. They’re ready for change, but afraid to leave because of the instability and uncertainty we're facing This weekend, I joined ABC News Live to talk about how to take control of your career, even if you’re not ready to make a big move. We explored five ways to make the most of a job you don’t like but aren’t ready to leave: ✅ Clarify what you do like. Even in a tough role, there are likely moments that energize you. Identifying and doing more of what lights you up helps you feel more fulfilled and in control of the situation while you figure out a longer-term plan. ✅ Build strategic relationships. Feeling stuck often leads to isolation but connection creates momentum. The right conversation can offer fresh insight, encouragement or even open the door to your next opportunity. ✅ Take on a new challenge. If you’ve outgrown your job, find a problem to solve. It’s a way to grow your skills, increase your visibility and expand your experience without changing your job title. ✅ Invest in yourself. It’s never been easier to invest in your own professional development. Sites like LinkedIn Learning and Udemy make it easy to grow your skills. You might even find that your company will fund job-related training and certification programs. ✅ Practice self-advocacy. If you’re feeling unsupported or unappreciated, ask for what you need. That might be clearer expectations, more feedback or new responsibilities. Every time you speak up, you build confidence and strengthen a skill that will serve you long-term. If you’re in a career rut, I hope this conversation gives you a few practical ways to start building momentum. See the comments for the link. What are you doing to stay engaged and challenged at work in this moment? #careersuccess #leadership