Feeling Stuck in Your Career? Stop Waiting and Start Leading with Purpose

There’s a moment in every leadership journey when you realize no one is coming to hand you the next opportunity.

No title.

No promotion.

No calendar invite labeled “Your Big Break.”

You’ve been showing up, doing the work, thinking a few steps ahead—and still, nothing changes.

That was me. I’d been VP of Sales for five years. Our team was performing. I had taken on responsibilities well beyond the job description. And I kept waiting for the conversation—“What’s next for you?” or “Let’s talk about where you want to grow.”

It never came.

When I finally brought it up, the answer was casual and cutting:

"I have tactical work for you to do."

That was the moment everything shifted. Not just in my role—but in my mindset.

Waiting at Work? Here’s Why It Becomes a Habit

When you're someone who cares about doing things the right way, you don’t just rush ahead. You earn your spot. You follow the process. You look for signals that it’s your turn.

But eventually, waiting becomes more than patience.

It becomes a habit.

You stop advocating.

You play small to keep the peace.

You convince yourself you're being “a team player” when really—you’re stuck.

That day, I decided to stop waiting. Not out of bitterness, but out of clarity.

If the next chapter wasn’t going to be handed to me, I would write it myself.

Leadership Development Starts Before the Title

That one moment launched a series of decisions:

• I enrolled in a coaching incubator

• I invested in my voice as a speaker

• I reconnected with my bigger purpose as a builder of people, not just processes

  
  

And something unexpected happened: I didn’t burn out or walk away.

I reclaimed my energy.

I showed up with more clarity, more boundaries, and more presence.

My team noticed.

They didn’t ask where I was going.

They asked, “How can we keep growing like this?”

That’s when I knew: I didn’t need permission. I needed alignment.

And I had to lead the way.

Coaching Insight: Step Into Leadership Without the Promotion

The leaders I coach are often waiting for something.

Waiting for clarity.

Waiting for recognition.

Waiting for the perfect timing to take a bold step.

But leadership doesn’t work like that. You don’t wait to be picked.You choose.

You choose to ask for what you want.You choose to speak up even if it shakes the room.You choose to stop playing the understudy in your own career story.

Reflection Prompt: Where Are You Still Waiting for Permission?

Take a moment this week and ask:

• Where have I outgrown my role—but keep playing small?

• What conversation am I putting off because I fear the answer?

• If I stopped waiting, what would I actually do?

You don't have to have all the answers.

You just need to take the next bold step.

Stop waiting. Start leading.

If you’re stuck between competing priorities or cross-functional tension, you might also like How to Lead Through Tension: Becoming the Bridge Between Friction and Flow.

If this sparked something for you, share it or comment below: What would shift if you stopped waiting and started leading today?