We’ve all had one of those days.
Committed to moving ahead in our careers, we pour ourselves into something we believe will transform us and help take us to the next level. We’re eager for growth and continue to achieve it until we suddenly hit a roadblock. Determined to work our way around it, we try again and again, only to run smack dab into the proverbial brick wall.
This begins a cycle of self-doubt, where we start to question ourselves and become so exasperated that we’re convinced it’s time to throw in the towel.
As maddening as it can be to feel like you’re not making progress despite your best efforts, the frustration you’re feeling isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Here are four unexpected ways it can help you make career progress:
1. It can be a sign that you lack clarity.
It can be tempting to blame your frustration on external sources, but the real issue may be a lack of clarity. What is it that you want to accomplish? Who are you trying to attract and engage? How are you proposing to do that? If your answers are too fuzzy (or worse, unknown), you’ll endlessly spin round and round. When you narrow your focus and get specific with your goals, you’ll have a far easier time achieving them.
2. It might mean you’re going in the wrong direction.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but if you’ve been at it for a while and haven’t made headway, perhaps you need to consider a new path.
Sometimes spinning your wheels is the best thing that can happen to you because it gives you a chance to reevaluate your strategy: if a new offering isn’t getting the reception you’d hoped for, scrap it and try something different; if to date, you’ve been a lone wolf, perhaps you should consider a partner.
Or maybe you need to increase your level of awareness and pay attention. Even when you think you’re going in the right direction, the universe has a funny way of nudging you in another. Consider that the delays you’ve experienced might signify that it’s time to change course.
The important thing here is to maintain a level of flexibility and willingness to take action; by choosing to do so, you’ll gain new ground and again begin to make progress.
3. It pushes you to gain a new perspective by talking about it with someone.
Because we’re so emotionally vested in our endeavors, it can be hard to see things as they truly are. Chatting about your issue with a trusted advisor—a friend, family member, or mentor—can help you step back and gain objectivity and a fresh perspective.
Or consider going an alternative route and throwing out your challenge to a casual acquaintance outside of your usual business circle. A new view of an old problem can help us see it in a different light. Sometimes it’s not the counsel of others you need; it’s being given the platform to say out loud what’s in your head that helps get you unstuck.
4. It can help you see that it’s self-induced and always comes before achievement.
You can adopt a mindset where you believe the world is conspiring against you and let frustration stymy you, or you can use setbacks as fuel to course correct and keep going. To conquer frustration, focus on the outcome, not the obstacle.
Remember, too, that we often get discouraged right before we have a significant breakthrough. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it might mean that it will launch you into something extraordinary. If you maintain your patience and keep your eye on the prize, you may look back and see that this was a pivotal moment in your career.
No one is immune from frustration, but the savviest people understand it’s an essential part of success.
