Who owns your career? You Do. But once in a while we hit a stumbling block, or need to climb over huge rocks on the road to career success.

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I had conversations this past week with two people who both shared similar stories of well-meaning managers who become obstacles in career navigation. In both stories, the common thread was massive organisational restructuring. Both employees had lost their drive to continue down the same path with the same team inside the same organisation. One asked me, “When you lose your passion, how do you keep going?”

Both employees worked for a great manager and were part of strong, cohesive, high performing teams. Both teams achieved considerable success through the years. As the organisation changed, new opportunities emerged and both felt it was time to step up their game.

Their managers had different plans. Given the internal chaos, both managers wanted minimum interruptions to the team. They believed the team should soldier on during turbulent times, continue doing great work and most of all, stick together. In their eyes, this disruptive force of a re-organisation actually held the team together.

As the organisation shifts, so do individual priorities. The well-meaning managers lost sight of the organisational goals making broad-based assumptions about group objectives. Holding a talented employee back too often results in disengagement and stagnation.

Nothing stays the same for the organisation, the team or the individual.

To overcome career stumbling block, you need to own the conversation. Take a step back, check personal agendas and consider the situation from all sides. Find out why your boss is holding you back. Ask, “Is there something you want to tell me that I have not asked?”

Conversations spark action. Action leads to action. Take charge of your career.