Career Growth: 3 Ways To Grow When There’s No Progression
3 ways to grow in your career
It can feel really difficult when you're in a role or organisation where there’s no clear next step for career growth. Maybe you don’t aspire to your manager’s position, perhaps their job feels totally unrelated to what you actually do, or maybe there isn't the option to get promoted within your team. Over time, you can start to feel stagnant, under-challenged and disconnected from growth.
But career growth isn’t just about climbing the next rung on a formal ladder. It is also about deepening your knowledge and expanding your network, even if your current structure doesn’t allow for traditional progression.
Here are three career growth strategies, even when it feels like there’s no natural route to progress for you.
1. Leverage Your Strengths & Get Involved in Internal Projects
Start by thinking about your strengths. What are you naturally good at? What energises you? Once you have clarity on that, look around your current workplace... Are there internal projects, committees, or initiatives that align with your strengths or challenge you in new ways?
For example, if you're a Communications Manager at a London-based charity and you love mentoring others, you could get involved in onboarding or training new hires, even if it’s outside of your official remit. Or maybe there’s a brand and marketing project where your communications insights could add real value.
Getting involved in projects beyond your day-to-day remit can help with your career growth. They allow you to develop new skills and raise your visibility across the organisation, even if your job title still stays the same.
2. Expand Your Network for Career Growth & New Opportunities
You’re only aware of what you’re aware of, and that’s why growing your network can be one of the most powerful ways to grow your career. By speaking to people in different industries or roles, you will begin to see what else is out there. You will likely discover new paths, emerging sectors and also, creative career pivots.
Start small:
Attend a local meetup or industry event
Reconnect with a former colleague over coffee
Join a LinkedIn group relevant to your interests
Hearing others’ career growth stories often sparks new ideas for your own! Plus, you never know when a conversation might turn into an opportunity...
3. Find a Mentor or Coach to Support Targeted Career Growth
If you're looking for more focused development, whether in leadership, confidence, strategic thinking or soft skills, then consider finding a mentor or hiring a coach. These relationships can help you work on areas that matter to you, regardless of your current title or career path.
For example, you might ask someone you admire (a former manager, senior leader, or someone else outside of your organisation) if they’d be open to mentoring you once a quarter. You set the agenda and focus, whether this be meeting facilitation, stakeholder management, how to run projects, communication under pressure or even general workplace confidence.
Or, if you want a more structured approach, working with a coach can help you unpack what’s next. They will help you to build a strategy and make intentional steps forward with confidence and clarity. Having this kind of support system is often the missing piece in unlocking career growth.
You can read about my 1-1 coaching options for career growth here.
Final Thoughts
Just because your company doesn’t offer a straightforward promotion path doesn’t mean your growth has to stall.
There are always ways to evolve; by deepening your skills, broadening your perspective and investing in yourself.
Career growth isn’t just vertical. It’s internal. It’s relational. And most importantly, it’s yours to define.