5 Work Mindsets to Help You Feel in Control of Your Career

I’m an expert at overthinking things that don’t need overthinking.

That overthinking often shows up as rumination or endless analysis, especially in higher education where expectations run high. A departmental shift, budget cuts, or less-than-supportive feedback on a grant or manuscript can all trigger a mental spiral.

One thing that’s helped me (and many of the faculty and staff I coach) is focusing on five work mindsets that help you feel in control of your career. A small shift in mindset doesn’t fix everything, but it can bring more calm, even when the situation stays messy (mindsets and reframing are interconnected; you can read my post on reframing here).

Mindsets can ease the pressure

Having the “right” mindset can ease the pressure and how we react to a situation. When that happens, things feel more workable and we’re able to move forward.

Below are 5 mindsets that I come back to regularly, in my own career and with those I coach.

I draw on these in varied circumstances that include:

• executing a work task
• feeling behind or reactive
• encountering a challenge
• pursuing large or small career-related goals
• figuring out what’s next in my work

Five work mindsets to help you feel (more) in control of your career

1. Reflection over reaction

Rather than rushing to fix or figure things out, we start by noticing what’s happening. Often, the first signal is physical: a tight jaw before a meeting, a spike in urgency when we open our inbox.

That’s information. It invites us to pause, name what’s happening, and respond with more intention.

One faculty member I worked with started paying attention to her physical cues when colleagues didn’t respond with instant enthusiasm to her ideas. She noticed she was holding her breath when she shared ideas and used that as a sign to check in with herself (and remind herself to breath). Over time, this helped her feel more grounded and better able to handle responses.

2. Curiosity over certainty

You don’t need to have it all figured out to take a step. A vague pull or quiet hunch is worth paying attention to.

In career conversations, I often hear people say, “I just need to get clear before I…”
I’m a firm believer that it’s the experimenting (the doing, the learning, the reflecting) that brings clarity.

3. Compassion over criticism

I could go on and on about this one.

In short: self-compassion creates far more space for movement than self-judgment ever will.

For example, if you’re behind on writing or missed setting a boundary, try swapping “I should have…” with “I’m learning to…” This isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about treating yourself with care. (If that last statement, makes you recoil, read my post on “Why perfectionists don’t like self-compassion” here).

4. Agency over passivity

Even when options feel limited, we almost always have influence somewhere. For example, you can’t control how students will react to an assignment or an approach you take in your course, but you can be clear and timely in how you communicate your choice.

This mindset has a lot to do with our self talk, and about focussing on the process (vs being hyper fixated on the outcome).

5. Adaptability over rigidity

Career paths are rarely straight lines. Sometimes, plans that once made perfect sense need to shift. That doesn’t mean you’re off-track.

Whether your role is expanding in unexpected ways or your priorities are changing, adaptability helps you stay in motion without feeling like you’re losing your footing.

A way forward

These mindsets offer an alternative to spiralling in perfectionism, or rumination. They’re invitations to relate to our work (and ourselves) differently and in a more supportive way.

I’d love to hear what mindset has been helping you lately. You can reply by email, and I’ll always write back.