If you’re feeling stuck right now, you’re not alone. Layoffs are looming, the job market is soft, inflation is real—and expectations keep changing with little warning. Whether it’s the quiet rollback of DEI programs or unclear advancement pathways, something’s off.

And women are feeling it deep in their bones.

This isn’t a moment to wait it out. It’s a moment to get clear and get moving.

Here’s what’s really behind the stalled momentum—and four research-backed power moves, aligned with the Career MOVE Method™, to help you take back control.

Why It Feels Like You’re Running in Place

Gallup (2025) calls it “The Great Detachment.” People aren’t quitting—they’re staying put, but mentally, they’re miles away. Only 45% of employees say they understand what’s expected of them at work, and only 30% feel connected to their organization’s purpose (Gallup, 2025). That’s not just disheartening—it’s disorienting.

And women are up against even more. In 2024, women were promoted at far lower rates than men (22% vs. 34%), and fewer received raises (32% vs. 46%) (HiBob, 2025). Even the most ambitious women are looking around thinking, What’s the point?

Let’s Shift That. Here’s How.

These four power moves aren’t just ideas—they’re part of the Career MOVE Method™, built to help you Map your definition of success, Overcome the real barriers, Visualize your next best step, and Execute with confidence and action.

Power Move #1. Map Your Definition of Success
Success on someone else’s terms won’t cut it anymore. You need to define what success looks like for you. What matters most? What energizes you? What trade-offs are you no longer willing to make?

Grab a notebook or your notes app and jot this down: What would a great year look like for me—professionally and personally? If you can’t answer that, don’t worry. This is where your clarity begins.

The clearer your vision, the easier it becomes to spot the right opportunities (and walk away from the wrong ones). And this is what you then start to work toward. Yes. Even in a soft job market.

Power Move # 2. Overcome the Internal and External Barriers
You can’t make your next move if you don’t understand what’s in your way. Start by scanning your external landscape. What’s shifting in your company, your industry, your team? Where are the bottlenecks, and where might new doors be opening?

Then check inward. What mindset are you carrying into your work? Are you playing small, waiting to “be ready,” or burning out trying to prove yourself? Many women won’t apply unless they meet 100% of the qualifications (Bain & Company, 2025). That pattern doesn’t serve you.

Self-awareness isn’t a luxury—it’s your internal GPS. And when paired with external context, it becomes a powerful tool for making intentional, aligned moves.

Power Move # 3. Visualize & Assess Your Best Move
Clarity isn’t enough—you need to see where you’re headed. What are the roles, projects, or visibility opportunities that will move you closer to your version of success?

Look beyond what’s easy or expected. What energizes you? What kind of work brings out your best? Take stock of your current environment and options, and start evaluating them against what you truly want. The right next move isn’t always the obvious one.

Someone wise once told me you start to position not for the next role, but for the role two roles down. Be thinking forward about where you want to be and start mapping your plan on what you need to get there.

4. Execute with Confidence & Action
It’s not about waiting for someone to hand you the opportunity—it’s about making the ask, showing up with clarity, and backing it with action. Whether it's pitching a new project, applying before you feel 100% ready, or stepping into rooms you used to shy away from—move. Take the step. Take A step.

Build strategic support along the way. That might mean reaching out to a mentor, joining a peer network, or investing in coaching. Take ownership of your momentum.

Take the step. Take A step. The plan starts with committment and one simple step.

Final Word

You don’t need to wait for someone to hand you a plan. You already have the power to shift things. The question is: Are you ready to move?

Wondering that yourself - here's a free and quick 5-Minute Career Check-In Audit to get you started.

Because here’s the truth—the system may not have been built with you in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build your own lane.

References

Bain & Company. (2025). Beyond policies: Leadership behaviors that propel women to the top. https://www.bain.com

Center for Creative Leadership. (2024). Retaining & developing women leaders: 5 steps for success. https://www.ccl.org

Forbes. (2025). As DEI is canceled, women need to own their worth, not prove it. https://www.forbes.com

Gallup. (2025). The great detachment: Why employees feel stuck. https://www.gallup.com

HiBob. (2025). US 2025 women professionals in the modern workplace. https://www.hibob.com

Sonali Mittra. (2025). Women in leadership: Build resilience for success. https://www.sonalimittra.com

Urban Land Institute. (n.d.). Strategies to promote women: Advancing women in real estate. https://www.uli.org