Using Strengths to Navigate Career Uncertainty
Career uncertainty shows up in many forms. Sometimes it creeps in slowly—a quiet sense that something is missing. Other times it hits like a train: a layoff, a toxic job fit, or a promotion that doesn’t feel quite right. Whether gradual or sudden, it can leave you feeling unmoored, questioning your next step, and wondering if the path you’re on is still the right one.
When that uncertainty strikes, there’s one powerful tool that often gets overlooked: your strengths.
Your Strengths Are Your Compass
Your strengths are your internal compass during uncertain times. A strength is when you are putting your core talents to work. Strengths are different from skills. Skills are learned. Strengths are inherent. When you exercise a strength, you feel strong.
When the future feels murky, the best place to begin isn’t with job boards, grad school applications, or even skills assessments, it’s with a reflection of where you are naturally strong. Your natural strengths, those things you do so effortlessly you hardly notice, can anchor you and point you in the right direction.
I see this all the time in my work with professionals, especially those mid-to-late in their careers. They’re smart, successful, and hardworking. And yet… something feels off. They may be unfulfilled, burned out, or under-recognized.
Some are dealing with a recent layoff and aren’t sure if they want to return to their old role. Others have taken on new roles that looked great on paper but turned out to be a poor fit.
Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Clarity
One of the hardest things about career uncertainty is that it’s rarely about having no ideas, it’s having too many.
You may be considering:
A move into leadership.
A shift from technical work into management.
A pivot into a new issue area like philanthropy or DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)
A change that allows for better work-life balance.
The ideas swirl. One day, you're convinced you need a certification. The next, you're ready to explore a whole new field. Then doubt creeps in. Can I even make this shift with my background? What if I’m not qualified? What if I still don’t feel happy?
Before long, you freeze. You try to power through. Or convince yourself to just wait it out. I’ve been there myself, feeling stuck, confused, and tempted to settle.
But eventually, something stirs. A sense that you can’t keep settling. That your work life matters too much to ignore. And that’s when it’s time to come back to your strengths.
What Are Strengths, Really?
Strengths aren’t just what you’re good at. They’re what make you feel energized, confident, and effective. They’re not hard skills like data analysis or writing reports. They’re how you do those things.
Think of strengths like:
Strategic thinker – seeing patterns others miss and mapping a path forward.
Relationship Connector – building deep, trusted connections that help teams thrive.
Activator – turning ideas into action plans quickly and confidently.
Maximizer – refining something (a program, strategy, product) from good into something exceptional.
Communication – helping people understand, connect, and take action.
When you identify these strengths, and the activities that bring them to life, you begin to see yourself more clearly. You notice what work feels most natural and where you add the most value.
Strengths in Action
Here’s how this clarity plays out:
You’re great with spreadsheets but your real strength is spotting patterns that influence big decisions.
You can analyze policy but you shine when persuading stakeholders to embrace that policy.
You’re solid at managing projects but you thrive when designing the strategy that sparks real impact.
Maybe you’re already using these strengths, but not enough. Maybe they’ve been underused or misunderstood. Either way, when you reconnect with them, things begin to shift. You start to see what kind of role, environment, or leadership path would truly fit.
The Clarity You Need Is Already Within You
So if you’re spinning in circles about your next step, remember: The answer isn’t out there. It’s within you.
Strengths are your superpowers.
They help you stand out.
They connect you to purpose.
They energize your days.
And most importantly, they bring clarity.
Before you jump into job applications or second-guess your worth, take a step back and ask: What am I already doing that gives me energy and impact? That question can become your anchor—and your compass—as you navigate what’s next.