Is your career plateau a sign of stagnation or a signal to move?
In short: Quitting a job is undeniably frightening, but staying stuck on the same career rung might be even costlier. To navigate the paralyzing weight of infinite choices, you need more than just courage; you need a psychological map to navigate the uncertainty of your next big move.
When we face major life transitions—whether changing roles, starting a business, or even becoming a parent—we often struggle with the sheer volume of possibilities. Talent development expert Whitney Johnson suggests that the key to navigating this is understanding the 'S Curve of Learning,' a model originally identified by social science researcher E.M. Rogers. This model illustrates that learning begins at the base of an 'S' and climbs upward through phases of growth.
The difficulty lies in the 'Explorer phase.' While our brains crave novelty, an overabundance of options can lead to paralysis. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for weighing options, has finite processing power; constantly calculating how every new possibility fits our current life consumes enormous energy. Furthermore, the limbic system—the brain's threat detector—can sound an alarm when too much novelty creates uncertainty, making the prospect of a new S Curve feel inherently risky.
To decide if a new challenge is worth the energy, Johnson proposes a template of questions to bridge the gap between mere wishing and actionable belief. One critical check is whether a goal is achievable; moving from the passive 'that would be nice' to an optimistic assumption is vital for progress. Another is determining if the new path is easy to test. By finding simple ways to test new S Curves, you can determine if your initial pace is sustainable without the overwhelming fear of the unknown.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to know if it’s time to change careers | The Way We Work, a TED series
- Also: Chieh Huang: How to know if it's time to change careers | TED Talk
- Also: Considering a job change or other life change? 7 questions to ask yourself first |
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