The Hidden Crisis in Modern Career Planning
Did you know exactly what shape your career would take when you first started working?
I sure didn’t. After graduating from Penn State with a degree in Kinesiology, I began as a personal trainer. Then I became an assistant gym manager. I shifted into yoga, teaching at a local studio, eventually leading trainings and managing programs. After a move and a two-year break from work, I built a vinyasa program at a former Bikram studio, taught elsewhere for a time, and finally leapt into building an online business. Now, I coach executives, leaders, teams, and individuals to thrive through strengths-based development.
It’s been a twisty road—and I know I’m not the only one.
So let me ask you:
Do you know what shape your career will take over the next 15 to 20 years? Even 5 years from now?
If you don’t, you’re not alone. The old, predictable career paths don’t really exist anymore.
The Hidden Breakdown
To make things harder, most organizations aren’t set up to help people manage or grow their careers. A 2020 Gallup poll found:
Only 15% of employees strongly agree they have clear career advancement opportunities
Just 18% believe high performance leads to faster growth
Only 21% feel they’re evaluated on performance metrics they can control
These numbers are concerning on their own—but they also tie directly into well-being.
Gallup identified five key elements of well-being: Career, Social, Financial, Physical, and Community. And Career well-being is the most important. When it suffers, everything else tends to follow. Yet, just 20% of people polled said they like what they do every day.
That’s a crisis.
The traditional ladder is collapsing—and it’s leaving people without clear direction or support. We feel the ripple effects in our confidence, health, relationships, and bank accounts.
How We Got Here
Three big forces are shaping this breakdown:
1. Rapid Technological Change
Industries are evolving fast. Roles that felt stable five years ago might be gone today. Career planning feels almost impossible when the ground keeps shifting.
2. Globalization
While it’s created opportunity, it’s also fueled outsourcing and job instability in some sectors—disrupting traditional paths and structures.
3. Changing Values
Millennials and Gen Z care more about purpose, autonomy, and flexibility than job titles or corner offices. But many companies haven’t caught up to those priorities—and employees are left navigating alone.
Together, these factors have created a perfect storm: careers are complex, non-linear, and deeply personal. But most systems weren’t built for that reality.
Gallup’s Research-Backed Solutions
Gallup offers three big recommendations for building better, more human-centered career paths:
👉 Focus on Strengths
Employees who use their strengths every day are 6x more likely to be engaged and 3x more likely to report excellent quality of life. Identifying what people naturally do well—and helping them do more of it—is a powerful performance and well-being strategy.
👉 Shift to Ongoing Development
Ditch the annual review. Instead, prioritize regular, meaningful conversations between managers and employees about growth, goals, and progress.
👉 Personalize the Path
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work anymore. People need career development that reflects who they are—their values, strengths, and aspirations.
What Leaders Can Do
Use strengths assessments like CliftonStrengths® to identify team talents
Schedule regular check-ins to talk about growth—not just tasks
Offer clear development opportunities and encourage ongoing learning
Celebrate wins, coach for progress, and show you’re invested
What Employees Can Do
Reflect on your strengths and define what success means for you
Set short- and long-term goals that align with your values
Ask for feedback regularly—and seek out new challenges
Communicate your career aspirations and build a strong support network
The Role of Coaching
As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, I help both individuals and teams reconnect with what makes them shine. We clarify what success really means (for you), identify natural talents, and build a strategy that works for your real life and goals.
Feeling stuck or ready for change?
Let’s talk. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute discovery call. Together, we’ll map your next steps—no ladder required.
