What to Do When Something Feels Missing in Your Career (Hint: Change 20 Percent of Your Job)
When things slow down during the summer, it’s a natural time to pause—to take breaks, reflect, and recharge. And sometimes, when you step back and reflect, you realize something feels off in your work. You might not be able to name it exactly. All you know is: something feels missing.
If that’s true for you, you’re not alone.
According to McKinsey, 70% of employees say their sense of purpose is defined by their work—but only 18% believe they get as much purpose as they want from it.
Only 33% of U.S. employees are engaged at work according to the Gallup corporation, meaning most of the workforce isn't feeling enthusiastic or committed to what they do.
And a recent Glassdoor survey found that 65% of professionals feel stuck in their current role.
I hear this regularly in my coaching practice. Sometimes it sounds like:
“I’m on a hamster wheel keeping everything running—but I don’t feel like I’m growing.”
“I have a nagging feeling that something is missing in my career. I’ve always felt momentum. But now I’m not sure I do.”
These are smart, capable professionals. They’re meeting deadlines. They’re hitting goals. But they’re also bored, drained, or stuck in same-old-same-old. They’re not ready to quit—but they’re also not sure how much longer they can keep spinning the wheel.
Almost 10 years ago, I felt that way too. I had a great job, wonderful co-workers, and a mission-driven organization. On paper, everything was right. But something still felt off—and I felt guilty for not loving every part of the work.
Since then, I’ve learned that what’s often missing isn’t more money or a different job title. What’s missing is engagement.
What Engagement Actually Means
When you’re engaged at work, you feel energized, motivated, and purposeful. You’re challenged in a good way. You’re using your strengths. You care about the work and the mission behind it.
But when engagement fades? Your motivation drops. You lose momentum. Your creativity wanes. And it’s harder to show up with energy and intention.
What We Usually Blame (That Might Not Be the Real Problem)
When we feel disengaged, we often look to external causes:
A slow bureaucracy
Too much administrative busywork
Low morale across the organization
A manager who doesn’t manage
A workload that feels like it belongs to two people
All of these can be very real stressors—and they do matter. But engagement often comes down to what fills your actual calendar: the projects, tasks, meetings, and challenges that shape your day. And most workers some or even a large degree of autonomy and flexibility over how they deploy their day to day tasks.
The Good News: You Don’t Have to Change Everything
You don’t need a brand-new job to re-engage with your work. Organizational workforce expert Marcus Buckingham says that if you focus on just 20% of your job to align with your strengths and interests, you can significantly boost motivation and satisfaction.
In other words: you only need to shift a small part of your role to feel a meaningful difference.
So What’s Missing?
Here is what I have learned after a decade of coaching hundreds of professionals. When something feels off, it’s often a sign that you’re not getting the right kind of challenge. You may be craving:
A stretch assignment that activates your strategic thinking
More autonomy over a project or initiative
The chance to solve a complex problem
Deeper collaboration or trusted relationships
A system to build or a new program to launch
Time for focused, deep work (not just meetings and fire drills)
A subject area that lights you up to learn about
When my clients make time for this strengths-based work, they report greater satisfaction at work. Often, what’s missing is something you're already great at—but you haven’t been using that strength in a way that challenges or inspires you lately.
So What Can You Do?
Here are three steps you can take to re-engage with your work—even if you’re not ready to make a big move:
1. Clearly identify the tasks, projects, or even relationships that give you energy.
Look back over the last year. When did you feel “in the zone”? What projects or relationships lifted you up? What strengths were you using? Write down 3–5 moments that felt energizing—and look for patterns.
2. Look for opportunities to shift your 20%.
You don’t have to overhaul your whole job. Think about how you can shift 8 hours (if you work full time) each week to activities and tasks that light you up. Could you focus on the projects or even volunteer for a project that needs your strategic thinking? Could you carve out one afternoon a week for deep work? Could you propose an idea, mentor a colleague, or step back from something that drains you? Could you focus on nurturing relationships at work that energize you?
3. Talk with your manager (or yourself, if you're the boss).
See if there's room to craft your role around what engages you. Managers often don’t know what motivates their team until someone speaks up. Frame it as a win-win: you'll be more energized and more effective. Keep in mind this isn’t about stepping away from your core responsibilities. It’s about making meaningful shifts to keep you energized and engaged.
Bottom line: You don’t have to stay stuck. A sense of fulfillment doesn’t require a leap—it starts with small, intentional shifts that add meaning and energy back into your workweek.
What would your 20% look like?