Today’s guest post is from Katie Montbriand, Co-Founder & Storyteller, at Compass Rewire. To hear more from Katie, Compass Rewire Co-Founder, Samantha Mulcahy, and me, join us on Thursday December 12 at 12pm EST for a free webinar, More Than a Title: Building Identity Beyond Work.
The past doesn’t have to dictate the future. At any pivot point in your career, you have the opportunity to chart a different course.
Sometimes, you may find yourself in less-than-ideal circumstances:
- A work environment that stifles your growth,
- Feeling unfulfilled despite giving your all,
- Fuzzy boundaries, with work seeping into all areas of your life,
- Maintaining one-sided or unhealthy professional relationships,
- Working with a boss where things don’t quite gel.
Any of these situations can serve as a catalyst, prompting you to think, “Today’s the day I start looking for something new on LinkedIn. It’s time for a change.”
When you get to this point, it’s also common to have a voice in your head urging you to stay put, avoid the unknown, and stick with the familiar discomfort.
Why wait for a breaking point? You can be the architect of your solution, proactively taking charge of your future.
Pivoting isn’t simple, it’s often complex.
Here are 5 strategies to help you navigate toward your next chapter:
1) Envision Your Future: Start by focusing on what you want, not what you’re leaving behind. Consider using tools like Odyssey Mapping from ‘Designing Your Life’ to visualize different future scenarios. Sketch out three 5-year plans detailing potential paths in your work, home life, and personal growth. Dream big and allow yourself to explore possibilities that stretch beyond your current reality.
2) Acknowledge Your Strengths: It’s crucial to remember the skills that have led to your success. Make three lists: what you excel at, what comes naturally to you, and areas where you’re not as strong. This exercise isn’t just about reinforcing your confidence—it’s about mapping your skills to future opportunities. If you struggle, ask friends or colleagues for their perspectives—they often see strengths that you might overlook.
3) Align With Your Purpose: While your job and your life’s mission don’t have to fully overlap, understanding the impact you want to make can guide your career decisions. If you’re uncertain about your purpose, consider using this tool to generate a personal mission statement. Reflect on the answers you provide—it might reveal more about your future direction than you expect.
4) Learn From the Past: Reflect on your experiences to determine what you want to carry forward and what you can leave behind. Two tools to get you started:
- Conduct an energy audit where you track what gives you energy and what consumes it.
- Do a retro on your own experience: what do you want to start, stop, and continue?
5) Master the Art of Saying No: As you move forward, setting and maintaining boundaries will be crucial (especially in support roles that can often feel like catch-alls). Here are some graceful ways to decline:
- “Thanks for considering me for this, but I’m currently at capacity and won’t be able to commit to a new obligation.”
- “Adding this new task as a high priority puts me over capacity for the week – I recommend we shift (other task) to next week, does that work for you?”
- “Over the weekends, I focus on spending time with my family and turn off email notifications. If anything urgent comes up and you have to get in touch with me, please make sure to (text, call, etc), or know I will respond to all messages on Monday morning.”
Putting It All Together
When you’re ready for a change, whether for career growth, a new industry, or moving on from a negative work environment, the journey can seem daunting. The key is to reconnect with who you are and where you want to go. Focus less on what you’re moving away from and more on what you want to build for yourself. With a clear vision of the future, recognition of your strengths, and alignment with your purpose, you’ll be well-equipped to transition smoothly and maintain boundaries—gracefully steering towards a fulfilling new chapter.
About the Author – Katie Montbriand
Katie Montbriand spent her career driving transformation in both startups and global organizations. As Chief of Staff at a Fortune 100 bank, she pioneered a trailblazing team of “Culturists,” focused on enhancing employee engagement and fostering authentic connections during transitions.
After making a mid-career pivot to entrepreneurship, Katie understands the importance of intentionally restructuring one’s life. In 2023, she co-founded Compass Rewire to address a growing need she observed among clients and colleagues—support while navigating mid-life transformations including career changes, evolving family dynamics, and the pursuit of purpose.
