3 Career Blocks You Didn’t Know You Had, and How Coaching Fixes Them

Have you ever felt stuck in your career but couldn’t quite put your finger on why? Maybe you’ve hit a plateau, you’re feeling uninspired, or you just don’t know what’s next. The truth is, career blocks aren’t always obvious. They show up as patterns of thought and behaviour that keep you from moving forward. The good news? Coaching can help you break through them and step into a career that truly aligns with you.

Here are three common career blocks you might not realise you have, and how coaching can help you shift them.

1. You’re Playing Small Without Realising It

You tell yourself you’re content where you are, but deep down, you know you want more. Maybe you hesitate to go for promotions, don’t put yourself forward for exciting opportunities, or stay in roles that no longer challenge you. This can be rooted in imposter syndrome, fear of failure, or simply not recognising your full potential.

How Coaching Helps: A coach helps you see the bigger picture and recognise your strengths. Through powerful questioning and mindset shifts, you’ll start believing in your abilities and feel confident enough to take up space in your industry. Coaching gives you the tools to reframe self-doubt and take action towards the career you truly want.

2. You’re Stuck in ‘Should’ Thinking

If your career choices are based on what you should do rather than what you want to do, you might be stuck in a pattern that’s not serving you. Maybe you followed a traditional path, stayed in a ‘safe’ job, or ignored your deeper interests because they didn’t seem practical. Over time, this disconnect can lead to frustration, burnout, and a lack of fulfilment.

How Coaching Helps: Coaching helps you strip away external expectations and reconnect with what you truly want. By exploring your values, passions, and long-term vision, a coach guides you towards choices that feel aligned rather than forced. This shift allows you to create a career that brings you joy, purpose, and success on your terms.

3. You’re Waiting for Clarity Instead of Creating It

You keep telling yourself you’ll make a move when things are clearer, when you have a solid plan, when the perfect opportunity appears, when you finally feel ready. The problem? Clarity doesn’t just arrive one day; it’s built through action. Waiting for certainty often means staying stuck for longer than necessary.

How Coaching Helps: A coach helps you take imperfect action. Instead of waiting for everything to make sense, coaching encourages you to explore, experiment, and gain clarity through movement. Whether that means networking, taking on small projects, or testing out new career directions, you’ll learn how to trust yourself and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Ready to Break Through?

If any of these blocks sound familiar, you’re not alone and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. Coaching provides the support, accountability, and fresh perspective you need to overcome these barriers and move forward with clarity and confidence.

You deserve a career that excites and fulfils you. The first step? Recognising what’s holding you back and choosing to do something about it. If you’re ready to explore what’s next, coaching might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.

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