4 ways to figure out what you want next in your career (EVEN if you ‘don’t have time’)

TIP #1 — COMMIT

You always have a choice about whether you keep putting off exploring what you want — or if you commit and go all in. This mindset piece comes first because without it, you’ll keep making excuses.

A senior leader was referred to me because they were thinking about making a change — but weren’t sure what this looked like. Before we got started, their employer offered them a promotion into their first C-suite role.

On paper, it made complete sense. So they took it, got busy with the handover, and we never proceeded. Nearly 2 years later, they have the title — yet still don’t know what they want next.

In contrast, the client I mentioned at the top of this episode also had a lot on their plate — as a single parent, caring for their mother and currently between roles.

I highlighted that the majority of my clients are employed full-time and have very full lives, so the program is designed to be flexible rather than create more pressure. We’d build coaching actions around their capacity and they are the one who’ll dictate how much time they have to invest.

This person chose to make a decision now, commit to the coaching process and delay their start date by a few weeks. But the main thing is, they didn’t put it off. They’re all in and doing the groundwork while waiting for the job opportunity to land!

I’m sharing these examples because I see this pattern showing up everywhere — even with leaders who’ve never worked with me.

The lesson for YOU is this: When you stop making excuses, commit now and do the work, you will create the career you’re after.

TIP #2 — STEP OUT OF SELF-REFLECTION

If you don’t know what you want next, sitting behind the scenes trying to think your way to clarity won’t help. You’ve got to get out there, actively explore your options and talk to people.

One client found they had more time than ever after a recent redundancy. Yet trying to force themselves to sit at their desk at dedicated times and focus on brainstorming career ideas wasn’t working.

Because when you’re feeling frustrated and uncertain about what you want next, it’s easy to procrastinate — or start questioning whether pursuing a different career path is even possible.

What we noticed is the ideas started dropping when they were out in the world responding to things and interacting with others — not when they were trying to force it.

Instead, we shifted their entire strategy to setting up conversations with people doing work which interested them. THIS is the best way to generate career ideas, build your network and identify new job opportunities. I also encouraged them to change up their environment by working from a café or meeting a friend for lunch a couple of times a week.

I want to acknowledge that reaching out to people can feel uncomfortable. Even as an extrovert with a sales background who was confident connecting with people, I still found it daunting at first.

Because as a high-performer, successful in my career and known for what I did, my whole identity was tied up in work. So what would others THINK if I dared to consider doing something different? And who would I even BE without the title and identity I’d built?

But once I took the first step and reached out to one person, I realised: people are generous and willing to help. That one action alone helped me work out what I wanted to do next and build friendships and professional relationships I still have years later.

One client was resisting ‘cold-calling’ people, so we reframed it to ‘reconnecting’ and started with their warmest contacts, one at a time. This is what separates the people who take action from those who don’t.

Because when you get out and talk to people, you’ll generate more career ideas in one conversation than months of self-reflection alone.

TIP #3 — RELEASE THE PRESSURE

Financial pressure is one of the most common reasons senior leaders abandon the process of figuring out what they want next in their careers. Even if you KNOW you want something different, the fear of leaving a steady pay cheque, the familiar title or security of an established career can stop you before you’ve even begun to explore your options.

One leader waited until the financial pressure forced them into action. Relying on the external pressures of a mortgage, private school fees and providing for their family to create motivation didn’t work. They ended up jumping straight into another role in their existing field not by choice — but because they needed the money.

Alternatively, if you’re in between opportunities and need the income now, finding an interim role is a smart move in the short-term. But don’t use that as an excuse to stop exploring what you want long-term. Both can happen at the same time — just as it would for someone who’s already working full-time.

My client identified 3 options:

1. Use this time between roles to work out what they really wanted
2. Find a bridge job to ease the financial pressure and continue to do this work on the side, or
3. Return to their previous career and try to find fulfillment in other ways outside work

They already knew Option 3 would be difficult in a high-performing role with little time and lots of big life commitments. By the time we met, this person had already decided Option 2 was the way to go — not one or the other.

And I thought this was wise. Securing this role removed the immediate pressure and gave them the confidence to invest in coaching.

Compare this to waiting for external circumstances to force your hand. This is the risk of letting your career unfold without direction — versus proactively taking ownership of it.

Taking action towards what you want completely shifts how you show up in your current role or bridge job. Even if it’s not where you want to be long-term. Because knowing you’re doing something about it changes your energy entirely.

When you reduce financial pressure without losing sight of your long-term goals, you will create a career by design, not by default.

TIP #4 — MANAGE YOURSELF, NOT YOUR TIME

At this point you’re likely asking: How do I find the time when I’m already busy? The secret is self-management, which is different to time management.

While HOW you prioritise your time is important, this isn’t about productivity tips or time management hacks. Self-management is about taking personal responsibility for what you choose to give your time and energy to.

Whether you want to get promoted in your existing organisation, develop new skills in your current role or shift careers completely, the approach is the same. You need to block out small increments of time to work on your career development — and protect them.

I recommend identifying your Daily Big 3 — your top 3 tasks and number one priority to work on each day. Then, treat the steps you take towards your long-term development in the same way.

Think of it this way: Even if only one 15 minute action per week is focused on your long-term priorities, it’s better than doing nothing for 6 months!

One of my clients is a single mother who was dealing with the grief of losing a parent, burnout and navigating a toxic work environment. Anyone in this situation could have decided it wasn’t the right time — but she didn’t wait.

Don’t make it your full-time job

So that’s how to create space when you’re time poor. But what about the other extreme — when you’re between roles and suddenly available 24/7 to work out what’s next?

In this instance, don’t turn it into your full-time job. Dedicate 30-60 minutes a day, half a day a couple of times a week or whatever works for you. However, this doesn’t mean you have to chain yourself to your desk for 8 hours a day!

Another client was feeling quite socially isolated after working remotely in their most recent role. So my advice was to dedicate time to the activities they enjoy and that nurture them too — like going to the gym or catching up with friends while they have the flexibility.

By prioritising yourself, your health and important relationships first, you’ll be better equipped to get the most out of the dedicated chunks of time you spend on your career. Those activities and interactions could even spark new ideas and connections to support your next career chapter.

Managing multiple career goals

If you have a couple of different career objectives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. But don’t make the mistake of waiting until one is resolved before addressing the other.

Say you’re looking for an immediate bridge job and also want to figure out what you want long-term. Then carve out time to work on them both. Or if you’re thinking of moving into a new career path while building a business on the side, create separate chunks of time for both activities.

When you decide to take action despite the obstacles, you will figure out what you want next in your career.

So there you have it. The exact strategies that have helped my clients and I figure out what’s next in our careers — even if we ‘don’t have time’. Because when you decide to make your career the priority, you’ll always find the time.

If you’re looking to clarify your direction, build confidence and create a personalised strategy to take ownership of your career, I invite you to explore Ignite Your Career.

Apply for a complimentary call to get started here.

Stacey Back is an executive career coach, strategist and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders to design careers on their own terms and helps organisations to develop and retain them.