Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting a lot on where I focus my time and energy - what’s working, what’s not, and where I want to make progress next year.

And one question that keeps coming up in my own reflections, and in conversations with clients, is this:

How do you know when you’ve outgrown your role?

It can be tough to know when you are ready, with your comfort zone keeping you safe yet your curiosity calling for more. You might still enjoy parts of your job, love the people around you, and feel grateful for the opportunities you’ve had. But somewhere inside, there is a niggling feeling that just won’t go away.

• Sometimes it is subtle, you start to get bored, or feel a sense that you’re coasting. 
• Other times it’s more obvious and can show up as frustration, restlessness, or a feeling that you’re capable of more but don’t quite know what’s next.
• You may be completely happy with where you are at, but know that in order to get where you want to be in your career, you just have to keep moving. 
• Or, perhaps someone has told you that you need to move on. 

When I reflect on my career journey, there have certainly been times when I have been bored (and looking up the next training opportunity), frustrated, and more recently completely happy but also recognising that I want to keep learning and developing.. 

If one of these sounds familiar, here are a few signs you may have outgrown your role - and what to do about it.

You’re comfortable… but not challenged

Comfort can be wonderful, but too much of it for too long can dull your edge.

If you’re no longer learning, experimenting, or stretching yourself, it’s a signal that growth has stalled. You might still be busy, but busy and challenged are not the same thing.

Ask yourself: when was the last time I did something at work that pushed me outside my comfort zone?

If you can’t remember, it might be time to reintroduce stretch into your career and if you can’t find it in your current organisation don’t be afraid to look elsewhere.

You’re achieving… but not fulfilled

On paper, things might look great - you’re performing well, hitting goals, maybe even getting praise from others.

But inside, it doesn’t feel exciting anymore. The achievements don’t land the same way they used to. You might even feel guilty for not feeling happier.

This is often a sign that your definition of success has evolved. You’ve grown, but your role hasn’t grown with you.

Take some time to reflect on what “success” means to you now - not five years ago, not by someone else’s standards, but by yours.

Perhaps it is to deepen or expand your expertise, maybe to land that promotion you have been eyeing, spend more time at home, or to switch careers completely. The path forward will depend on what you uncover. 

My Career Clarity Compass is the perfect tool for you to audit your career and pinpoint exactly what's not working. Download your free copy here. 

You can see the next step… and it doesn’t excite you

One of the clearest signs you’ve outgrown a role is when you look at the path ahead and think, “I don’t actually want that.”

Maybe you’re expected to move into management, but you love being a specialist. Or perhaps the next promotion looks like more stress, more meetings, but not more meaning.

If you can see the next few rungs of the ladder and none of them feel right, it’s time to explore a different ladder. Research the careers of other people who inspire you (LinkedIn is a great place to start) and figure out what skills and experience they have. Compare it to your own, is there a gap? Does it spark any inspiring ideas that you could explore for your next step?

You’re craving change, but fear is holding you back

Sometimes we stay put because it feels safer than the unknown.

You might catch yourself saying things like, “I should be grateful” or “Now’s not the right time.” But if those thoughts are keeping you in a place that no longer fits, it’s worth asking - what’s the cost of staying still?

Growth and discomfort are inseparable. The goal isn’t to eliminate fear; it’s to move forward despite it.

If this is you, check out my "fear" blog mini series:

65 - Banish your fear of judegement

66 - Fear of the unknown and why it shouldn't stop you

67 - Turn your fear of failure into your biggest year yet

 So what can you do about it?

If you suspect you’ve outgrown your role, it doesn’t mean you have to make a drastic change overnight. The best place to start is with with reflection.

And if you’re feeling stuck because you don’t yet know what’s next, that’s completely normal.
Most people don’t have a crystal-clear picture of their next step straight away - clarity often comes after you start exploring, not before.

The key is to create space for curiosity. When you give yourself permission to explore, talk to people in different roles, and reflect on what energises (or drains) you, the next step often reveals itself one piece at a time.

Here are a few ways to move forward with clarity and confidence:

Reconnect with your values. What matters most to you now? Is your current role supporting that or stifling it?

Map your strengths and skills. List what you’ve mastered and what you still want to learn. This helps you see what’s transferable - and where the next challenge might lie.

Start a curiosity project. Explore something new within or outside your organisation - a cross-functional project, a course, or even a conversation with someone in a role that interests you.

Ask yourself bigger questions. Where do you want to grow next? What would make you feel proud a year from now? Check out blog number 79 - How to use AI to advance your career for inspiration.

The answers don’t have to come immediately, the best thing you can do is to create the time in your calendar to ask them. No one else is going to do it for you, and in 12 months time you will be grateful you did!

Always with love,

Elsa x