Are You Ready to Lead? Signs It’s Time to Level Up in Your Career

Last Updated: September 5, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: September 5, 2025.

Stepping into any new role can be daunting, but new challenges provide opportunity for growth, learning, and career advancement. Whether you feel tired of your current job, yearn for something different, or want to speed up your career progression, there are plenty of options out there. 

Recognising the Need for a New Challenge

Do you ever have days when time slips by and you’re running on autopilot until clock-out time? Don’t worry, most of us have experienced this, but it could be the biggest hint that it’s time for a change. 

An area that has been the subject of much research is the skill-challenge balance, with theories like Csikszentmihalyi’s flow looking at where people work optimally. Everybody is different, but the big takeaway from the psychological research is to find that sweet spot between challenge and skill. Being pushed to learn new things and complete challenging tasks is great, but being pushed too far too fast can lead to dissatisfaction. If you are ever tired of the monotony of a current job, perhaps that balance needs reassessing. 

Frustration at Work

A big indicator of being underchallenged is the creeping sense of frustration that comes from knowing you can do more but not being given the chance. This is not just momentary boredom; it can develop into what researchers call an “underchallenged burnout,” where lack of stimulation erodes motivation and engagement over time. When meaningful challenges are absent, the energy once directed into productive work often transforms into disengagement, irritability, and the persistent feeling of being stuck.

Career plateuing is a common occurrence, and, according to studies, plateuing is, unsurprisingly, heavily correlated with job attitudes and outcomes. The same research looked at how workers in plateaued roles initially feel disappointment, but if left unaddressed, this evolves into deeper dissatisfaction, negative emotion, and potential counterproductive behaviorsYou’ve likely heard of burnout, but there is another concept: boreout, where one loses interest, motivation, and gets frustrated with the stagnation of a boring job.

Power and Influence

Most of us won’t admit it, but maybe Nietzsche’s idea of a deep internal drive or “will to power” isn’t too far from the truth. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but let’s be honest, most aspiring leaders are not aiming to be gods. 

The power to make bigger decisions and tough choices can be a big driver of both satisfaction and self-worth. The opportunity to influence outcomes, guide teams, and shape an organization’s future often marks the turning point in a career. Power in this sense isn’t about domination, but about agency, the ability to align work with values, champion change, and create impact beyond one’s individual contribution.

Upskilling

Most new jobs mean new skills, and new skills can open a lot of doors, whether that’s through formal education, certifications, or learning on the job. Upskilling isn’t limited to technical know-how; it can also involve developing soft skills like leadership, communication, or adaptability. In today’s workplace, where industries are constantly reshaped by technology and shifting demands, the ability to keep learning is a career necessity. The willingness to grow is often what separates those who stay stagnant from those who move into more impactful roles.

Oftentimes, higher education or courses to upskill in your field can make a big difference. Take nursing, for example, you could be a practising nurse working in hospitals every day, thinking of stepping up in healthcare, you might ask: why get a DNP? What are the benefits, and what will it take?

Autonomy and Leadership

Moving to another job, or levelling up inside your own organisation, often means more responsibility and possibly leadership. For many of us, increased autonomy is a big milestone; it means greater independence in decision-making, increased ownership, and a good boost to job satisfaction. 

You’ve probably heard the old adage great leaders are born to lead or something along those lines. The truth is that while knowing how to lead is a real skill, the research shows that the key elements of leadership can be learned through practice, trial, and error. 

Seizing on Recommendations

It’s easy to get so caught up in our own lives that we ignore or downplay the input of others, but it’s often those around us who recognise when we are stagnant, bored, or understimulated at work. The next time someone says “you’d be good at that”, given it isn’t a sarcastic friend suggesting you become an astronaut, take a second to consider their input and ask yourself why they believe you could be great at something. 

There are even times when managers, bosses, and coworkers actively advocate for you, recommending your skills to others and building your connections. Seizing on this is a great way to move into bigger roles, especially when someone else is going out of their way to recommend you.