More Than a Single Bangle: Why Mid-Career Growth Requires Support and Intention - Calabash Coach

According to recent research,  mid‑career is often marked by "frustration, stagnation, and a sense of despondency." These findings echo what I hear repeatedly from professionals whose progress has stalled despite years of commitment and sound competence.

A recent conversation with a friend mirrored the insights from this research.  “Planning my next career move feels overwhelming.  I feel stuck. The job market is difficult to navigate,” she said. “

As we talked, she described a week filled with back‑to‑back meetings, constant firefighting, and boredom of doing the same tasks each week.  “I’m busy,” she said, “but I am not growing.”  “I guess I might just wait for the next promotion opportunity.”

 Beneath her words sat deeper frustrations: a mismatch between her role and her values, uncertainty about the skills she needs to stay competitive, and confusion about what she truly wants next.

Her experience reflects something I see often: careers shaped more by happenstance than intention. Imagine what could be possible if we redirected even 10% of the energy we pour into planning milestone birthdays or redesigning a kitchen into planning our careers. The impact on our confidence, choices, and long‑term fulfilment would be phenomenal.

When I asked her what she wanted her workday to feel like, she paused. Then she began describing how she would like to use her dormant skills and make a meaningful impact in her organisation. In that moment, she articulated a deep desire for alignment between her values, strengths, and the contribution she wants to make. That flicker of clarity captures the power of a career coaching conversation.

Career coaching has the potential to transform the career‑planning process from overwhelming to empowering.

The conversation with my friend highlights an important point- career planning becomes difficult when we try to do it alone, without guidance, structure, or support. It’s like trying to create sound with a single bangle. Across cultures, many people have always relied on different guides, such as spiritual, communal,  and wise elders to navigate life’s transitions. Career planning is no different. We need frameworks that help us move from confusion to clarity, from happenstance to intention.

This is why I promote career planning as a powerful and structured practice. I conceptualise it as several interconnected strands:

•             the intentional act of looking ahead in your career journey

•             setting clear goals and understanding the rationale behind them

•             recognising potential barriers and planning how to navigate them

•             identifying skills gaps and development opportunities

•             mapping the support systems and relationships that help you move forward with confidence and agency.

These strands echo the well‑established DOTS model of career development developed by  Bill Law and Tony Watts. The DOTS model focuses on decision-making skills, opportunity awareness, transition skills, and self‑awareness. Together, they form a foundation for intentional career growth, especially for mid‑career professionals who feel stuck, stretched thin, or unsure of their next step.

My friend’s experience is not an isolated case. Some research suggests that job satisfaction often dips during the 40s before rebounding later in life. This perspective is encouraging. It offers hope to mid‑career professionals who feel their career has plateaued. The question becomes: how do you prepare to maximise this predicted rebound?

My advice:  Plan intentionally, Execute boldly, Review critically. Even one intentional step this month can shift your career journey.