A Process for Navigating Career Crossroads with Confidence

When professionals reach a crossroads in their careers, the questions that surface can feel weighty:

• How do I keep showing up in a role that no longer fits?
• What if I’ve outgrown my current position—or realize it was never a true fit to begin with?
• How can I move forward when I feel overlooked, unsupported, or stuck?

These questions often stir up frustration, discouragement, or even a sense of betrayal. And yet, they can also mark the beginning of a new chapter—one where clarity, purpose, and confidence start to take shape.

How the Process Works

Progress doesn’t come from quick fixes. It comes from slowing down and engaging in a structured process that blends reflection with exploration.

One of the tools I use is Online Storyteller by OneLifeTools - Leaders in Narrative Assessment . It's a platform that helps clients inventory their experiences and reflect on them in new ways. By capturing details from both professional and personal life, clients begin to notice patterns they may have missed before.

Alongside this, I use a story-listening approach. I ask questions that go deeper than surface-level descriptions—questions that draw out the meaning behind lived experiences. Clients often realize that what they learned in one part of their life has direct relevance to the choices they face now.

Together, we turn those reflections into:

• Clarified Priorities: What’s non-negotiable, what matters, and what can shift.
• Insights about Strengths and Values: Evidence of how they’ve thrived in the past and what that reveals for the future.
• Possibilities to Explore: New directions they may feel curious about—whether in their current field or in an entirely new arena.
• A Vision for Daily Life: What a balanced, energizing week might look like when work and personal commitments are in harmony.

Why This Matters

Not every role is meant to be a long-term fit. In fact, sometimes the role was never the right fit in the first place—it may have been too junior, too narrowly defined, or lacking the structure and support someone needs to succeed.

That mismatch can leave people second-guessing themselves, wondering if they’ve done something wrong. But often, the issue is not with the individual—it’s with the role itself. Through this process, clients begin to recognize the broader dynamics at play. They shift from self-blame to clarity, and from there, they can pursue opportunities that better match their strengths, aspirations, and experience.

Reflection for You

• If you thought about your own career as a collection of stories, what themes or strengths would stand out?
• Which possibilities feel worth exploring, even if you don’t yet know where they will lead?

Transitions can feel daunting, but with the right process, they become opportunities to step into work and life that feel aligned, intentional, and sustainable.

About the Author

Erica Mattison is an executive and career coach who partners with purpose-driven professionals to create clarity, confidence, and intentional next steps. She is the author of 📖 Clarifying What Matters: Creating Direction for Your Career and host of Conversations with Erica, a podcast featuring insights and stories on navigating work and life with purpose. Erica supports individuals and organizations through coaching, workshops, and professional development experiences.

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