We often expect that our careers will contain constant excitement and will always be an upwards climb. However, this simply is not true. There will be times when work is a little less than exciting and it is not just about climbing the career ladder. What can you do when you feel that your career progression has stalled?

我们常常期望自己的职业生涯始终令人兴奋，并且总是向上攀升。然而，这并不现实。有时候，工作并不那么激动人心，攀登职业阶梯也并非工作的全部。如果你感到职业发展陷入停滞，你能够做些什么呢？

How long must I wait before I move on?

我必须等多久才有可能继续前进？

Generally, you will spend time learning the job, mastering it and looking for your next position. The time for each of these phases is dependent on your competency, the dynamics of the position and your organisation. Often you will be able to get a feel for the ‘residence time’ of a position from looking around your organisation. You will see whether people generally spend two or three years or longer in a position. In more complex roles and industries, the residence time may be longer.

通常情况下，你需要花时间去学习如何做好你的工作，直到熟练的程度，然后寻找你的下一个位置。每一个这样的阶段会持续多久取决于你的能力、职位的流动性和你所在组织的情况。通常，你可以通过观察组织中周围的人的情况，了解某个职位的“停留时间”。你可以观察人们通常会在一个职位上停留两年、三年还是更久。如果职位和行业更为复杂，停留时间可能会更长。

You can then objectively assess whether you are following that rate. It may be that there are outliers in the organisation who are promoted quicker than this general rate. However, expecting to be promoted quicker than this norm may only lead to disappointment.

然后，你可以客观评估你是否也符合这样的晋升速度。组织里或许有一些异数，他们比通常的情况升迁更快。然而，期望比常规速度更快升迁或许只会让你失望。

You might also like to tap into your business school careers service. They may be able to guide you on the general rate of advancement and what positions you can expect after a number of years.

你还可以利用商学院的职业服务。这些服务或许能够指导你了解晋升的一般速度，以及几年后你有可能坐上何种职位。

What can I do about a lack of progression?

如果一直止步不前，我能做些什么？

If you think you are starting to have outstayed your residence time in a position, you need to start searching around for new opportunities. Talking to your manager about opportunities coming up is a good start. Try to also have a frank conversation about what the barriers are for you taking up new positions. This will help you develop a plan to overcome these deficiencies and will assist your manager in supporting your move.

如果你认为你在一个职位上停留的时间已经超出了一般情况，你需要开始四处搜寻新机会。与你的经理谈一谈即将到来的机会，是一个良好开端。你还可以尝试开诚布公地与经理谈一谈阻碍你担任新职位的障碍有哪些。这将帮助你制定一个计划，以克服这些不足之处，也有助于你的经理对你的升迁给予支持。

A mentor is always invaluable in this space. Talking to people about how their careers have developed and what positions they have taken on will give you valuable data on which to base your expectations. You will also gain an ally for advancement if required.

在这方面，职业导师总是极为有用。与人们谈论他们的职业发展路径和他们担任过的职位将为建立你自己的预期提供宝贵信息。有需要的话，你还能获得一位晋升的盟友。

Another option is to look for leadership opportunities outside work — rotary clubs, charity work, trustee or unpaid directorships. This will assist you in being able to demonstrate leadership and it can be invaluable on your CV.

另一个选择是在工作之外寻找担任领导职位的机会——扶轮社、慈善工作、托管人、无薪董事。这将帮助你展现你的领导力，成为简历上的可贵的一笔。

You might also gain some opportunities from your business school. Faculty may be able put you in touch with others in your field, contacts for a mentor or external leadership opportunities.

你或许还可以从商学院获得一些机会。商学院教师或许能帮你接触到与你相同领域的人、与一位职业导师取得联系或者帮你获得一些外部领导职位机会。

What about a sideways move?

横向移动怎么样？

A career is not always upward. This is an absolute truth. If we only moved upward then we would not be able to understand all the different facets of complex industries. A chief executive who did not have a couple of sideways moves will have a shortlived leadership career.

职业生涯并不总是向上的。这是绝对真理。如果我们只向上移动，我们就无法理解复杂行业的各个方面。一位未曾经历过几次横向移动的首席执行官，其领导生涯是无法长久的。

If there is not an upwards move available, there may be an avenue that you can use to broaden your experience. This is important for general management positions as you will be able to gain a diverse knowledge of the organisation.

如果没有晋升的机会，或许你可以另辟蹊径拓宽自身经验。对于综合管理职位来说，这一点很重要，因为你将获得有关组织的多方面知识。

If you wish to work in other areas of a company, then explore options such as secondments, job shadowing and taking on new projects. Also, ask your manager if it is possible to undertake some training if you have gaps in your knowledge.

如果你希望在公司的其他部门工作，你可以寻找借调、工作见习或者承担新项目等机会。此外，你可以询问你的经理，如果你的知识有一些欠缺，你是否有可能接受一些培训。

What will turn a plateau into a slide?

什么会让职业平台期变得更糟？

You are guaranteed to prolong your career plateau if you believe your own hype. We all know what this looks like: no longer putting in the effort and lacking a positive attitude. It can be hard to keep professional, but it is very important to do so. Even if you have mentally checked out, you need to be positive as your colleagues will remember negative behaviour.

如果你相信自己心中那套言过其实的说辞，你的职业平台期势必变得更长。我们都知道这是什么样的一种情景：不再付出努力，缺乏积极的态度。保持专业素养或许很难，但这样做却十分重要。就算你精神上已经心不在焉，你需要保持积极，因为你的同事会记得你消极的表现。

If you are in a bit of a lull, look outside the workplace to recharge yourself — try a new skill or sport. Always have energy as you never know when you will need a favour from your colleagues.

如果你有些低落，寻找工作之外的机会给自己充电——尝试一种新技能或者运动。永远保持精力充沛，因为你不知道什么时候，你需要得到你的同事的支持。

What happens when you do not move on?

无法前进的时候该怎么办？

Sometimes there are simply no opportunities for advancement in your company. Your boss may be new to their role, which will mean a significant wait before any upwards move. Or your company may be downsizing.

有时你的公司的确没有晋升机会。你的老板或许新近上任，这意味着任何晋升都要等相当长的时间。或者你的公司正在精简。

Either way, it might be the time to move on to another organisation. If you have maintained your professionalism to the end, your colleagues and manager will respect your move to a role with more room to grow.

无论是哪种情况，你或许是时候跳槽到另一个组织中。如果你一直保持自己的专业素养，你的同事和经理会尊重你转至一个发展空间更大的职位的选择。

Angela Ogier is manager of land access and portfolio at Santos GLNG, an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company. Previously, Ms Ogier was a manager of supply planning and optimisation at the same company. She is also an MBA 2004 graduate from the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School in the UK.

本文作者安杰拉攠吉尔是澳大利亚石油和天然气勘探生产公司Santos GLNG土地获得和投资组合经理，她此前在同一家公司担任供应规划和优化经理。她还是英国剑桥大学(University of Cambridge)佳奇商学院(Judge Business School)2004级MBA毕业生