A Leader at Their Career Crossroads: 3 Questions to Help You Make
the Right Decision

Fortunately, it is possible to get out of this impasse. The first step is to take a deep breath and reflect on where you are now and what you need. The next step is to ask yourself a few key questions. According to Bruce Hazen, there are three critical questions at the career crossroads. He explores them in his book “Answering the Three Career Questions: Your Lifetime Career Management System.”

Ask yourself these questions: Is it time to move up? Is it time to move out? Is it time to adapt?

This question is particularly difficult for leaders who have spent many years developing their careers in one organisation, who have helped build that organisation. However, at some point, it may turn out that the current environment no longer supports your personal development or is not aligned with your values and vision for the future. The decision to leave requires a lot of courage, self-awareness, and good market research. However, it can lead to finding new paths and better utilising your talents. Often, it’s not about leaving the organisation but leaving a specific area. Sometimes, a change of department and scope of duties is enough to embark on a new career path.

It is said that change is the only constant in any organization, which is why adaptability is a key attribute of an effective leader. Change can affect one’s position, team, or supervisor, requiring flexibility—not only in terms of learning or developing “on the job,” but primarily in adjusting communication styles and demonstrating skills and knowledge. The discomfort and confusion that may arise stem from the difficulty of embracing change, which is often accompanied by resistance and longing for previous ways of working. However, adapting to new situations is an opportunity for personal growth and a chance to shape organizational culture to better respond to external challenges and opportunities.

It is said that change is the only constant in any organization, which is why adaptability is a key attribute of an effective leader. Change can affect one’s position,

If change can be based on three simple questions, why do we still have trouble making decisions? In the chaos, stress at work, and daily rush, we either answer the wrong question or, under pressure or emotional overload, answer the right question incorrectly. As a result, driven by frustration, we leave the organisation when it was actually a good time to adapt. Or vice versa, we adapt for years, biting our lips, when we should have left long ago. Sometimes we accept a promotion when we are not yet ready for it, paying for it with excessive stress, loss of private life quality, and health.

If you’re wondering which of these three questions is key for you at this moment, I invite you to my website www.iwonaandrews.com for a test. I invite you to take the test on the site…

After taking the test, you can download guidelines on what the next step should be in relation to each of these questions.

Finding the right question for yourself at this moment is not the ultimate solution to the situation. It’s similar to a visit to the doctor, it’s not enough to cure you. However, a well-made diagnosis is essential to choosing the form of therapy. In the case of the three questions, finding the right question for the moment is like a diagnosis – it outlines the next steps and helps choose the strategy of action.

Sometimes, fearing this “situation diagnosis,” we don’t dig into the questions and don’t seek professional support that could pull us out of being stuck. The question arises, why? It’s the fear that recognising the situation will force immediate action and breaking out of the comfort zone, even if it’s a false comfort. This fear is unjustified. Diagnosing the situation directs you to the right path and appropriate future planning. This then leads to wise choices and conscious career designing. It strengthens the sense of control over life and career path, motivates further development, and gives meaning to daily choices.

Finding yourself at a crossroads, you can use this situation as an opportunity. Answers to important questions, reflection, and professional support can help you choose the right path. They can guide you from the negative emotions of confusion and frustration to a state of clear direction in your career, to expanding self-awareness about what resources you have, to discovering new opportunities and a sense of fulfilment in your professional career.

Use the time at the crossroads for a good situation diagnosis, to distinguish whether it’s time to move up, move out, or adapt. Crisis can be a springboard for further development.

team, or supervisor, requiring flexibility—not only in terms of learning or developing “on the job,” but primarily in adjusting communication styles and demonstrating skills and knowledge. The discomfort and confusion that may arise stem from the difficulty of embracing change, which is often accompanied by resistance and longing for previous ways of working. However, adapting to new situations is an opportunity for personal growth and a chance to shape organizational culture to better respond to external challenges and opportunities.

It begins subtly. A subtle sense of frustration at work, a decline in engagement, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Fatigue with the routine and the conviction that you’re stuck. The suspicion that what you give exceeds what you receive from your work. You might also feel exploited, unappreciated, and like you’re wasting your potential on things you shouldn’t be doing anymore. Or perhaps you feel that life is passing by and what you’re doing doesn’t make sense to you? You feel you can do more and better. But… you don’t know what that should be.

You have the impression that you no longer fit in and are not managing your work as you used to. Anxiety, unease, and confusion grow. You don’t know exactly what’s happening or how to deal with it. Worst of all, others seem satisfied. It’s hard to admit, but you’re jealous. Additionally, you’re angry at yourself and others. You wonder, what’s wrong with you? Questions swirl in your mind: What’s next? You want to take the next step, but you don’t know what it should be. You feel you need to act, but instead, you keep spinning in circles in your thoughts. Will you ever feel job satisfaction and a sense of purpose again?

The growing tension leads you to either finally quit, accepting the first available offer, or to remain stuck, hoping that sooner or later a solution will present itself, that fate will bring something to you. If these feelings resonate with you, you are most likely standing at a career crossroads. And with you stands confusion and chaos in your mind. What’s worse, there are no signposts in sight.

Fortunately, it is possible to get out of this impasse. The first step is to take a deep breath and reflect on where you are now and what you need. The next step is to ask yourself a few key questions. According to Bruce Hazen, there are three critical questions at the career crossroads. He explores them in his book “Answering the Three Career Questions: Your Lifetime Career Management System.”

Ask yourself these questions: Is it time to move up? Is it time to move out? Is it time to adapt?

This question is particularly difficult for leaders who have spent many years developing their careers in one organisation, who have helped build that organisation. However, at some point, it may turn out that the current environment no longer supports your personal development or is not aligned with your values and vision for the future. The decision to leave requires a lot of courage, self-awareness, and good market research. However, it can lead to finding new paths and better utilising your talents. Often, it’s not about leaving the organisation but leaving a specific area. Sometimes, a change of department and scope of duties is enough to embark on a new career path.

It is said that change is the only constant in any organization, which is why adaptability is a key attribute of an effective leader. Change can affect one’s position, team, or supervisor, requiring flexibility—not only in terms of learning or developing “on the job,” but primarily in adjusting communication styles and demonstrating skills and knowledge. The discomfort and confusion that may arise stem from the difficulty of embracing change, which is often accompanied by resistance and longing for previous ways of working. However, adapting to new situations is an opportunity for personal growth and a chance to shape organizational culture to better respond to external challenges and opportunities.

It is said that change is the only constant in any organization, which is why adaptability is a key attribute of an effective leader. Change can affect one’s position,

If change can be based on three simple questions, why do we still have trouble making decisions? In the chaos, stress at work, and daily rush, we either answer the wrong question or, under pressure or emotional overload, answer the right question incorrectly. As a result, driven by frustration, we leave the organisation when it was actually a good time to adapt. Or vice versa, we adapt for years, biting our lips, when we should have left long ago. Sometimes we accept a promotion when we are not yet ready for it, paying for it with excessive stress, loss of private life quality, and health.

If you’re wondering which of these three questions is key for you at this moment, I invite you to my website www.iwonaandrews.com for a test. I invite you to take the test on the site…

After taking the test, you can download guidelines on what the next step should be in relation to each of these questions.

Finding the right question for yourself at this moment is not the ultimate solution to the situation. It’s similar to a visit to the doctor, it’s not enough to cure you. However, a well-made diagnosis is essential to choosing the form of therapy. In the case of the three questions, finding the right question for the moment is like a diagnosis – it outlines the next steps and helps choose the strategy of action.

Sometimes, fearing this “situation diagnosis,” we don’t dig into the questions and don’t seek professional support that could pull us out of being stuck. The question arises, why? It’s the fear that recognising the situation will force immediate action and breaking out of the comfort zone, even if it’s a false comfort. This fear is unjustified. Diagnosing the situation directs you to the right path and appropriate future planning. This then leads to wise choices and conscious career designing. It strengthens the sense of control over life and career path, motivates further development, and gives meaning to daily choices.

Finding yourself at a crossroads, you can use this situation as an opportunity. Answers to important questions, reflection, and professional support can help you choose the right path. They can guide you from the negative emotions of confusion and frustration to a state of clear direction in your career, to expanding self-awareness about what resources you have, to discovering new opportunities and a sense of fulfilment in your professional career.

Use the time at the crossroads for a good situation diagnosis, to distinguish whether it’s time to move up, move out, or adapt. Crisis can be a springboard for further development.

team, or supervisor, requiring flexibility—not only in terms of learning or developing “on the job,” but primarily in adjusting communication styles and demonstrating skills and knowledge. The discomfort and confusion that may arise stem from the difficulty of embracing change, which is often accompanied by resistance and longing for previous ways of working. However, adapting to new situations is an opportunity for personal growth and a chance to shape organizational culture to better respond to external challenges and opportunities.