Lost Your Way at Work? Why Flailing Might Mean You're Growing

Have you seen those weird, wavy-armed inflatable tube-men thingys? They’re usually hanging out in front of the local car dealership on a Saturday, trying to get you in the car and out with a new SUV.

They’re known as air dancers, and all they do is spend the day flailing their arms around wildly.

Have you ever felt that way about your career, that you’re just flailing around, with seemingly no direction?

At a certain age, you’d think you’d have it all together, right? The right job, the right house, the right neighborhood.

Then, life started to happen. Career plans get sidetracked. Projects that should have taken six weeks now takes six months. The ease at which you solve problems has been a struggle. The fast track you thought you were on has slowed to a crawl.

And you find yourself—like that wavy-arm tube thingy—flailing around, wondering what happened and how it happened and how to get out of it.

You're Not Broken, You're Growing

Here’s the thing: you’re not broken. And you’re certainly not alone.

What no one tells you—or any of us—is that even the strongest careers, the most thoughtful plans, the most talented people will all go through seasons of flailing.

It’s not because you took a wrong turn. It’s not because you weren’t smart enough or prepared enough.

The reason is that life inevitably shifts. Industries evolve. Priorities change. And sometimes, what used to feel clear and linear suddenly feels muddy and slow.

Why Flailing Happens During Career Growth

Flailing isn’t a personal flaw. It’s often a natural response to growth. Realizing the old structures we used to operate in don’t fit anymore, even if the new ones aren’t built yet.

It’s uncomfortable. It’s frustrating. Trust me, I’ve been there. And, that’s also where real change begins.

When you find yourself flailing, the first instinct is often to flail harder. To fix it immediately. To reach  for the nearest solution.

The Power of Hitting Pause

Sometimes, though, your most powerful move can be to hit the pause button.

Let yourself take a step back, and give yourself the breathing room to see what’s actually happening.

Maybe you’re trying to force an old plan to work in a world that’s shifted. Maybe the ladder you’ve been climbing all these years has been leaning up against the wrong wall. Maybe you’ve grown in ways your current role no longer makes room for.

Don’t get it wrong: Stepping back is not a euphemism for doesn’t mean giving up. It means you are giving yourself a better vantage point.

And from that new perspective, something surprising happens: You start to let go.

You untether yourself from the timeline you thought you had to follow. Or, the timeline that you were told you had to follow. And you can stop shoulding all over yourself and let go of the shoulds that don’t serve you anymore.

Trust me, it’s not easy—letting go can feel like losing control. But in reality, it creates space for you.

Space to rethink, to reimagine and to build momentum for a new direction.

And when you're ready, you can move—not with frantic energy, but with intentional action.

Staying Open to the Winds of Change

Maybe that intentional action looks like updating your resume with a fresh set of eyes. Or it could be reaching out to an old colleague just to talk, without an agenda. It may also be giving yourself permission to dream again, even when the dream feels risky.

I talk about this often: Small wins matter. And they matter because they build momentum. They’re the quiet notes that, over time, write new chapters in your career, and in your life.

It’s easy to laugh at those wavy-arm tube-men, twisting and turning at that car dealership without a clear direction.

But if you look a little closer, you might realize something: they’re still upright. They’re still powered by something bigger moving through them.

Maybe that’s what this season is for you, too.

A time of feeling thrown around and tossed about, yes. And, it’s also a time of staying open, flexible, and willing to catch the winds of change.

Flailing doesn’t mean you’re falling. It means you’re still in the dance.

I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career and health coach specializing in helping mid-stage professionals gain clarity on their career journey. I’ve written a guide on how to escape the work hamster wheel. Click here to download yours.