You’ve invested years into building your career—earned your credibility, climbed the ladder, and delivered results. Now, the next big opportunity is on the table. Maybe it’s leading a larger team, taking on a broader remit, or finally getting that coveted seat at the table.

Everyone around you sees it as the obvious next step. A sign of progress. A win.

But deep down, something’s giving you pause.

Maybe it’s a quiet question that keeps surfacing:
“Do I even want this?”

Or a growing sense that the role you’ve worked so hard to reach no longer fits who you’ve become. Not because you’ve outgrown your ambition, but because your definition of success has evolved.

This is one of the most nuanced and emotionally complex crossroads I see in my work with senior professionals. On paper, the path is clear. The promotion makes sense. And yet, it doesn’t quite sit right.

So often, this moment is framed as an either/or decision:

• Stay where you are and aim higher

• Leave it all behind and start over

But real career decisions are rarely that binary. In reality, they live in the messy, human in-between space. And that’s exactly where the most meaningful clarity begins.

If you’re standing at this juncture, you may not need to choose between staying or leaving just yet. You may need to pause, step back, and ask:

• What truly motivates me now?

• Where do I feel most energised, most alive?

• What am I ready to leave behind?

• And what might a more aligned next chapter look like?

This isn’t just about choosing a role. It’s about realigning your career with who you are today—not the person you were when you first set out on this path.

For some, the answer is embracing the next leadership challenge with renewed clarity and purpose. For others, it’s a pivot—subtle or significant—toward something that feels more authentic, more fulfilling, more you.

Wherever you land, this moment is a powerful opportunity. Not a crisis, but an invitation:
To redefine what success looks like for you.
To honor what matters most in this season of your life.
To move forward—on your terms.

If any of this resonates, know that you don’t have to figure it out alone. Sometimes, having a space to talk it through can unlock insight faster than you expect.