There comes a point in many careers when you start asking questions you did not think about much earlier.
- Am I really growing anymore?
- What should I aim for next?
- Do I want another promotion, or something different?
- Why do I feel uncertain when my career looks fine from the outside?
These questions are common among professionals who have spent 10, 15, or even 20 years building their careers. At this stage, career growth is rarely about working harder. You already know how to work hard.
The bigger challenge is understanding where you want to go and what needs to change for you to get there.
That is where meaningful career growth begins.
Career Progress Is Not Always Career Growth
A new designation, a larger team, or a higher salary can feel rewarding. But these do not automatically mean you are growing.
During my 25+ years in corporate leadership, I worked with many professionals who excelled in their functional roles. Yet when they moved into leadership positions, they often discovered that success depended less on technical expertise and more on influencing, communicating, and leading others. That shift frequently became the turning point in their growth journey.
Real growth often shows up in quieter ways.
It may mean:
- Making better decisions under pressure
- Communicating with greater confidence
- Handling difficult conversations effectively
- Influencing without relying on authority
- Thinking beyond your immediate role
- Becoming a stronger leader
One question worth asking is:
“If my designation did not change for the next two years, what capabilities would I still want to develop?”
Your answer can reveal the kind of professional you are trying to become.
1. Get Clear About What Growth Means for You
One of the biggest mistakes I see in mid-career is chasing the next opportunity without first deciding what success actually looks like.
Before asking, “How can I grow?”, ask:
“What would meaningful growth look like for me now?”
Perhaps you want to:
- Lead a larger team or business
- Move into a strategic role
- Become known for a specific expertise
- Change industries
- Take on greater leadership responsibility
- Find work that feels more meaningful
Clarity does not require having all the answers. It simply means understanding the next step that makes sense for you.
2. Know Your Strengths and Development Areas
Your strengths helped you reach where you are today. They can also guide your future growth.
Ask yourself:
- What do people consistently seek my help for?
- What type of work energises me?
- What feedback do I hear repeatedly?
- What capabilities will my next role require?
At the same time, identify the gaps.
You may need stronger communication skills, better strategic thinking, greater executive presence, or improved stakeholder management.
Meaningful career development begins with honest self-awareness.
3. Build Skills Before You Need Them
Many professionals wait until they enter a new role before developing the skills required to succeed in it.
A better approach is to prepare in advance.
If you aspire to leadership, start developing leadership capabilities now. If you want a strategic role, strengthen your business and organisational perspective. If you are considering a career transition, identify both the transferable skills you already possess and the new capabilities you need to build.
The goal is not to collect certificates.
The goal is to become more capable.
Learning creates value only when it is applied consistently in real situations.
4. Increase Your Leadership Impact and Visibility
Doing good work is important, but people also need to understand the value you create.
This is not about self-promotion. It is about communicating your contribution clearly.
Instead of simply reporting activities, explain outcomes.
- What improved because of your work?
- What problem was solved?
- What impact did it create for the team, customer, or business?
As careers progress, influence becomes increasingly important.
Ask yourself:
- Can I gain support without relying on authority?
- Can I communicate complex ideas simply?
- Can I disagree respectfully while preserving relationships?
These are often the skills that separate strong performers from effective leaders.
5. Become More Adaptable During Career Transitions
Career paths are rarely as predictable as they appear on paper.
Many professionals experience transitions such as:
- Moving into a first-time leadership role
- Taking on broader responsibilities
- Changing functions or industries
- Returning after a career break
- Reassessing priorities during mid-career
These periods can create uncertainty, but they can also become powerful opportunities for growth.
Adaptability does not mean saying yes to everything. It means remaining open to learning, challenging assumptions, and responding thoughtfully when circumstances change.
6. Focus on Sustainable Behaviour Change
Career growth is rarely the result of a single insight or training programme.
Real growth happens when awareness is translated into consistent action.
In my coaching and mentoring work, I often see professionals gain valuable insights about themselves. However, lasting growth occurs only when those insights become new habits and behaviours.
Small behavioural shifts can create significant impact:
- Listening more effectively
- Seeking feedback regularly
- Communicating with greater clarity
- Managing priorities better
- Following through on commitments
In my experience, awareness creates possibilities, but behaviour change creates results.
Sustainable growth happens when professionals consistently practise new behaviours until they become part of who they are.
Awareness creates possibility.
Action creates progress.
Consistent action creates growth.
Final Thoughts
Career growth does not always follow a straight line.
There will be periods of momentum and periods of reflection. Both are valuable.
Sometimes growth begins not with a promotion or a new opportunity, but with the willingness to pause and ask better questions.
Meaningful career growth is not simply about reaching the next role. It is about becoming the person capable of succeeding in that role while staying aligned with what matters most to you.
The professionals who continue to grow are often not the ones with the most talent. They are the ones who regularly reflect, learn, adapt, and take purposeful action.
Because career growth begins with awareness, but lasting growth comes from consistent action.
About the Author
Rakesh Verma is a Career & Leadership Growth Coach, Mentor, and former business leader with 25+ years of leadership experience across sales, marketing, business development, and business management.
He brings 1000+ coaching and mentoring hours and has mentored 1000+ professionals during his corporate leadership and coaching journey. He works primarily with emerging leaders and mid-career professionals seeking greater clarity, confidence, leadership impact, and meaningful career growth.
Rakesh is an ICF Level 2 Coach, IMC Certified Master Mentor (CMM), and Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching (MGSCC) trained practitioner. His approach combines practical leadership experience with coaching, mentoring, and accountability support to help professionals turn awareness into action and action into growth.
Source: https://coachrakeshverma.com/how-to-achieve-meaningful-career-growth-in-your-mid-career/
