Here's how you can navigate challenges and obstacles on your path to leadership as a mid-career professional.

Embrace growth by seeking continuous learning opportunities and welcoming feedback. Develop resilience to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook. Build a strong support network to share experiences and gain insights. Prioritize clear communication and set realistic goals to navigate obstacles effectively. Stay adaptable and open to new strategies to overcome challenges and advance in your career.

Find a mentor who can offer guidance and insights based on their experience. Additionally, mentoring others can reinforce your own knowledge and leadership skills, creating a mutually beneficial learning environment.

Seek out feedback from diverse stakeholders. Encourage colleagues, mentors, team members to share honest perspectives and use it as fuel for growth. Reflecting on the feedback received, experimenting with different ways and integrating learnings into day-to-day practices helps move closer to career goals.

I often get to work with people who are in a similar position. One of the insights that usually comes up is about their mindset. Do they demonstrate a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Do they take what they know and do for granted or do they seek opportunities to learn and improve themselves? People who are open to learning and growth often seem to respond better to challenges and obstacles.

Surround yourself with people and resources that encourage your growth. Schedule an hour each day that is completely focused on your personal and professional development. It could be listening to a podcast that helps you develop a high income skill in alignment with your goals. It could be watching training videos or hiring a coach or mentor that can prepare you for the next level. These are a few of the ways you can embrace growth and be consistent with your overall development in leadership or your career.

Focus on building genuine connections rather than superficial ones. Take the time to understand and support your network's goals, creating a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

Join professional/industry associations and volunteer for committees and working groups. Participating in these activities you can showcase your expertise, connect with other professionals and build your reputation in the community.

Nothing will create opportunities like being connected with the right people. You have access to more resources that can help you enhance your skills and make you more valuable in your industry. Building relationships with key people will place you in conversations that you've never been in and introduce you to individuals that can really take your career to the next level.

Keep yourself updated with the latest industry trends and potential disruptions. By anticipating changes, you can prepare your team and organization to pivot effectively.

Treat every change or new situation as a personal challenge to learn something new. By framing these changes as opportunities to develop new skills and to explore different perspectives, you are more likely to position yourself as an effective change leader.

Maintaining balance, managing mental and emotional energy are essential part of effective leadership. By setting boundaries, scheduling downtime in your calendar and encouraging your team to find their balance, you foster a healthy and productive workplace culture.

Prioritizing balance means scheduling your priorities. As a leader there is no shortage of responsibilities. One way to really manage them and stay in a state of flow is by saying YES to yourself. If you're not taking care of yourself emotionally, mentally and physically, you impact the entire organization It's not just about your performance as a leader, it's about making sure you promote a healthy, successful culture in the workplace. Adapting the mindset to take time to rest, reset and recharge will make setting boundaries much easier to put into action. When you're operating at your best you win and so does your entire team.

Taking time for personal reflection is a thoughtful leadership practice. Every day set an intention for the work and interactions ahead. Be present and recognize what others may be feeling and dealing with in their own work projects and deadlines. Compassion is a leadership trait that most of us can deepen. At times, we can be so overwhelmed we inadvertently forget the “loads” others carry. It’s important in those moments to own our reactions and offer compassion.