Helen Hanison is the author of “Unstuck: A Smart Guide to Purposeful Career Redesign.” Helen discusses why many professionals feel stuck in their careers, emphasizing the ingrained societal pressure to persevere even in unfulfilling roles. She highlights how individuals often ignore their values and continue along a path that no longer aligns with their sense of purpose. For leaders, Helen explores how fostering open conversations with team members about their aspirations and aligning roles with individual strengths can combat stagnation and create meaningful engagement.
Helen defines “purposeful” career redesign as a structured, three-act process of alignment, ideation, and transformation. It starts with self-awareness, identifying personal values and strengths, and ends with practical experiments to test new career directions. She underscores the role of self-awareness in career transitions, advising professionals to reflect deeply on what truly matters to them. Helen also provides advice for leaders feeling stuck, advocating for small, deliberate steps toward change while maintaining authenticity and connection with their teams.
Key Takeaways
[02:16] Helen shared that many of her defining career moments became clear only in hindsight. She described how pivotal experiences often go unnoticed until they are viewed in context. These moments now drive her mission to help others get unstuck.
[06:07] Helen explained that Unstuck is a culmination of her experiences and learnings from navigating her career. She described it as a “roadmap” for designing purposeful careers.
[09:15] Helen discussed how societal pressures, like the need to persevere, often keep people stuck in unsatisfying careers. The pandemic, she noted, became a catalyst for reassessment and gave people permission to rethink their paths.
[21:09] Helen broke down her approach into three acts: Alignment, Ideation, and Transformation. She emphasized the importance of aligning strengths and values, brainstorming possibilities, and testing ideas before making big changes.
[25:17] Helen stressed the value of having a coach or mentor. She highlighted that while some can navigate change alone, having a thought partner can accelerate transformation and provide accountability.
[34:53] Helen addressed the challenge of being promoted into roles that may not align with one’s strengths. She advised leaders to reconnect with their values and seek support to navigate transitions.
[41:02] Helen encouraged listeners who feel disconnected from their careers to take action. She outlined the first steps of career redesign: understanding what you enjoy and value most, and starting small to build momentum.
[43:12] And remember, “Growth is painful, change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.” – Narayana Murthy
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Quotable Quotes
“Perseverance is a virtue, but staying in a career that violates your values is not.” Share on X “Purposeful career redesign starts with understanding what you enjoy most and value most.” Share on X “When you align your career with your values, the fear of change starts to lose its power.” Share on X “Coping for 20 years in a career that doesn’t serve you is not living—it’s surviving.” Share on X “The career ladder is outdated; think of your career as a series of meaningful projects instead.” Share on X “Perseverance can be a trap when it keeps you stuck in something that violates your values.” Share on X “The first step to getting unstuck is radical self-awareness—know your strengths, values, and what fuels your purpose.” Share on X “To create meaningful change, leaders must help their teams move beyond ‘more better’ to something new and exciting.” Share on X “Aligned career transformation isn’t about big leaps—it’s about small, deliberate steps that reduce risk and build clarity.” Share on X “A supportive leader creates a legacy not by holding onto people but by facilitating their growth, even if it means they move on.” Share on X “Your career should light you up, not weigh you down. If it doesn’t, it’s time to reassess and realign.” Share on X “Leaders who align their values with their actions inspire their teams and create a ripple effect of positivity.” Share on X
This is the book mentioned in this episode
Resources Mentioned
- The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com
- Sponsored by | www.darley.com
- Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com
- Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com
- Helen Hanison Website | www.helenhanison.com
- Helen Hanison LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hanison-com
- Helen Hanison Instagram | @helenhanison
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