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The signs of a mid-life crisis are sometimes so obvious that we make fun of them as a culture: the sudden acquisition of a snazzy red sports car, an extramarital affair with the nanny or pool boy. But there were no such outward signs of distress when Wendy Komac endured a mid-career crisis a few years back, at age 45.
"It was a real eye-opener for me when I realized there were several tasks that were required of me in my executive-level position that I was really good at, but I hated doing them," says Komac, of Hinkley, Ohio. "Nobody understood how I felt because most people think that being good at something is synonymous with actually enjoying it."
Dissatisfaction at work doesn't always amount to a crisis calling for major change, but it should prompt the afflicted to assess themselves and their jobs in order to pinpoint the problem areas and find a workable solution.
The first step is to clarify how things could be better. "Start with your perfect scenario, focusing on the skills you wish to use, the issues you wish to deal with, the people you wish to engage and the environment that gives you energy," says Steve Langerud, a Greencastle, Ind., workplace consultant. "Determine the gap between your perfect scenario and what you currently do. Do you need more training or experience?"
Filling the gap may be possible without switching jobs. Komac found ways to contribute to the organization that were personally rewarding. She coached and mentored, which in time emboldened her to strike out on her own to speak and write about career satisfaction.
Folks can also form an informal advisory board to develop a stronger sense of direction or take a solo sabbatical (even if it's only one personal day) to gain perspective, says business psychologist Debra Condren, who has practices in New York City and San Francisco.
Having gained self-awareness, "Make a plan. Stay or move on," Langerud says. "What will it take? Who needs to help?"
Perhaps on reflection, what seems like a mid-career crisis is actually an addressable issue. Or maybe it's time "to go back to school for radical retooling. In either case," Langerud said, "the key is to be intentional and in control."
