How to handle career pivots gracefully: Navigating shifts without losing momentum
- Madeline Curtis
- Nov 24
- 6 min read
Have you heard of Disney? Of course, you say. In this day and age, it’s hard to imagine someone who hasn’t. From Mickey Mouse to Disney World and the Disney Channel to the more modern Disney Plus, this company has become quite the household name–and one of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. But, did you know that creator and founder Walt Disney was once fired for lacking creativity? That’s right, the legendary mind behind the mega-media conglomerate was once fired from a Missouri newspaper because the editor believed he simply wasn’t creative enough.
It would have been very easy for Walt Disney to walk away from media and entertainment altogether after facing a humiliating career blow like that. He could very well have found a new nine-to-five and lived out his days simply and safely. But, as you can likely know, that isn’t the route he took. Rather than let an unexpected career pivot hold him back, he recognized the opportunity within. In doing so, he honed his skills and fulfilled his purpose–while creating a legacy along the way.
Career pivots, those you choose and those you don’t, are becoming much more common as industries evolve, technology advances, and priorities shift. A pivot in your career might mean changing roles, moving to a new industry, going back to school, or even taking a step back from your current position. No matter the form, one thing remains true: career pivots require courage, clarity, and thoughtful action.
Why are career pivots so hard?
Stepping into a new professional role often entails more than just switching your day-to-day tasks. Often, it means restructuring your priorities, re-working how you utilize your talents, and even reshaping your identity. These kinds of changes often come with challenges:
Self-doubt: You may worry you’re “starting over,” even if your skills carry over. You may also begin to question your own skills and talents, especially if this career shift came unexpectedly and involuntarily.
Loss of professional identity: A title or field you've been proud of can become a part of your identity. Losing that can be unsettling, making you feel as though you’ve lost your purpose or what makes you you.
Lack of support: Sometimes organizational leaders, or even those close to you, don’t understand or encourage your pivot. That can leave you feeling alone as you navigate the changes.
Acknowledging these challenges is the first step to embracing and easing into a career transition. These 6 tips can also help you power through a professional pivot with intention instead of fear.
6 Tips for handling career pivots gracefully
1. Understand your why
Purpose is essential to our being. In fact, having a strong sense of purpose has been linked to longer life span, lower stress levels, and better cognitive function. Every successful pivot–or venture, for that matter–relies on a clear sense of purpose. Before you take any action, get brutally honest with yourself about what this pivot does in relation to your purpose. If the change you’re facing is voluntary, why are you considering it? How does this move align with your overall purpose? What is your overall purpose? Being able to articulate your “why” clearly can anchor you in times of change and provide a clear sense of direction. It also helps you communicate your goals more effectively to mentors, hiring managers, or anyone helping you navigate the shift.
2. Research and plan for potential transition
Once you understand your ‘why’, begin researching the path ahead. A career pivot becomes much more manageable when you walk into it with realistic expectations and a clear plan of attack. Think of this stage as mapping out and scouting the terrain before you start a lengthy hike. It’s necessary, grounding, and often clarifying.
So, spend some time investigating what the new field or role demands. Dive into what skills or certifications are necessary, the daily responsibilities of the role, and even industry norms that could affect your work. Consider having a conversation with people who already work in that space to learn what the job actually looks like, not just what it appears to be from the outside. Also prepare for the physical and financial realities of the change. Will you need additional training or time off? Does a pay cut accompany the new role or position? Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress and smoothe out your transition.
3. Take a self-assessment
Self awareness is one of the powerful tools you can have in your toolkit during a career pivot. Here’s a simple way to hone it: Pause and take stock of your strengths, weaknesses, and talents. Identify tasks that energize you versus those that drain you. Take inventory of your transferable skills–skills like communication and organization that transition smoothly from one role to the next–and consider where they naturally fit in the path you're exploring. The goal here isn’t to sort yourself into a box or focus heavily on potential shortcomings. Rather, the goal is to gain insight into what you already bring to the table and how that could make a change easier. Most people are surprised to discover how much of their current expertise is relevant elsewhere. Shift your mindset from “I’m starting over” to “I’m rebuilding from what I already have.” This subtle shift can boost your confidence as you move forward.
4. Try renovating your long-term goals
A career shift may often require rewriting or refreshing some of your long-term goals. The plans you crafted five years ago were based on who you were then, not who you are now. Career pivots often shake up our existing goals. Maybe this pivot even brings you closer to your goals than you thought you’d be at this point. Or, maybe this particular pivot has you rethinking some of the goals you made in the past. Whatever the case may be, times of transformation are perfect for reflecting on the goals you once set for yourself.
Take a moment to re-evaluate where you ultimately want to go. Does your new path still align with your values, lifestyle preferences, and vision for your future? What milestones need updating? What does success look like now? Renovating your long-term goals can help you create a roadmap that complements your pivot instead of contradicting it. And, when your goals feel connected to your authentic self, you’re far more likely to stay motivated through the challenges of a transition.
If you’re looking to revamp your goals, consider downloading our free ebook: The Path to Success This book equips you with the latest research and insights needed to craft actionable and achievable goals.
5. Seek guidance and feedback
Navigating a career shift alone is hard—and unnecessary. Seek out people who can provide honest insight and direction during your transition. If you were passed over for a promotion, for instance, ask why. Don’t look to place blame, but to gain clarity on what skills or habits you need to strengthen. Talk to mentors or trusted leaders and ask them what areas you could improve or how to remove blind spots.
Mentors or team members can also help you reframe your situation, identify opportunities you may not have considered, or even connect you with people in the industry you’re moving into. Support isn’t a crutch, it's a strategy. Sometimes, a single piece of feedback can become the catalyst you need to push forward and unlock your potential. Take advantage of the feedback trusted voices can provide.
6. Embrace the change
Transformation is often uncomfortable. It can bring fear, uncertainty, and discomfort. But, it can also offer possibilities. When you stop resisting and start embracing the change, you open yourself up to opportunities hidden within the unexpected. A pivot might push you to learn new skills, meet new people, or rediscover passions you haven’t tapped into in years.
Every obstacle harbors some kind of opportunity within it. Your challenge is to recognize the opportunity within. By leaning into the transition rather than fighting it, you transform a pivot into momentum. You begin to see it not as a detour, but as a redirection toward something possibly more aligned with what and who you’re meant to be.
Career pivots aren’t signs of failure. On the contrary, transitions can be significant steps in the process of becoming the person you’re meant to be and fulfilling your purpose. Whether you’re choosing a new path or adjusting to one you didn’t expect, remember that a directional change doesn’t have to mean a loss of momentum. A career pivot doesn’t have to slow you down or hold you back. Instead, it’s an opportunity to hone new skills, practice flexibility, and explore new terrain.
Whether you’re just starting out your career journey or facing an unexpected professional shift, The Growth Group is here to help. From Leadership Coaching to free ebooks, we aim to support you every step of your way.
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