When Doing More Doesn’t Move You Forward

I see this happening often.
My coachee shared that she is often the one:

• Given more responsibilities and projects
• People rely on
• Expected to step up, again and again

Yet…
• No recognition
• No salary increase
• No promotion, while others moved ahead

What hurt her wasn’t just the outcome.

It was the lack of clarity and feedback.

Her manager would say,
“You’re doing your job,”

but didn't explain what she was doing well, what her strengths were, or what her development path looked like.

Over time, she felt demotivated and drained.

She shared that her job has become so hectic that it is not sustainable.

Her typical days stretch beyond 12 hours.
She often has no time for breakfast and lunch, and her dinner is after night work calls.

With back-to-back meetings throughout the day, she often works on weekends to catch up.

She said,
“I don’t want to do a half-hearted job. I want to know how to move forward, without sacrificing my well-being.”

During our conversation, I covered two elements of my C.A.R.E.® framwork: acknowledging her emotions and reframing her mind.

As we explored her situation, her perspective shifted.

She realised that her manager wasn’t unsupportive in every way, and she felt less stuck.

As we wrapped up the session, I asked what she had learned.
 
She replied:
“We still have a choice, even when we feel hopeless.”

A choice in how we see the situation.
A choice in the conversations we decide to have.
A choice in the actions we take to protect our well-being.

By the end of our session, she had clarity on her next steps and how she wanted to approach her situation with more intention.

If this resonates, you don’t have to figure this out alone.

Reach out to me if you’d like to connect.

With C.A.R.E.®

Founder, Xel Consulting

Contact Xi Ren