#221 The Detention Strategy: Why Avoiding the Hard Stuff Doesn’t Work

We were two weeks into my middle child Jenson’s transition to high school, and I was almost shocked by how smooth it had been. Settling in well. Enjoying the structure. Navigating new friendships and bus rides.

That is, until the homework started.

After a very short attempt at his English task, Jenson looked up at me with all the dramatic flair of a Shakespearean monologue and said: “I’d rather take the detention than do the homework.”

“Erm… it doesn’t work like that,” I replied. “You’d still get the detention and have to do the homework. And this homework will be set every week for the next five years.”

He was horrified and I get it. Avoidance feels easier in the short term. Whether it’s homework, conflict, career development, or change; putting it off gives the illusion of relief. But avoidance doesn’t erase the task. It often amplifies it.

The Career Version of Detention

Right now, the job market is tough. Redundancies are rising. More candidates are competing for fewer roles. It’s tempting to think: “I’ll just keep my head down and wait for it to blow over.”

But in doing so, we fall into the trap of working in our careers, rather than on them.

Avoiding career design because it feels uncomfortable, overwhelming, or unclear doesn’t remove the risk of stagnation, it increases it. You don’t need to do it all at once, but you do need the right strategy.

What You Can Do Proactively Right Now

There are two powerful strategies you can implement right now to avoid the mid-career drift:

1. Optimise and future-proof your current role Make the most of where you are by increasing your visibility, leveraging your strengths, and aligning your work with your values.
2. Design your intentional career pivot Map out your next step strategically, whether that’s a promotion, a new role, or a whole new direction. Don't wait for opportunities, create them.

Lisa Kerr, PhD is a brilliant example of both. As Senior Director of Patient Engagement at Evinova , she joined the Career Design Mastermind and within just six months, optimised her current position and created new career opportunities that aligned with her values and ambitions.

🎧 You can hear her full story on the Women in STEM Career & Confidence Podcast: Listen on iTunes │ Listen on Spotify

Could That Be You Next?

Right now, I’m looking for three STEM women who are ready to:

• Stop feeling overlooked, underpaid, or underutilised
• Develop in leadership without burning out
• Create real impact with balance, confidence, and fulfilment
• Make an intentional career move with a pay rise in the next six months

If you’re a woman in STEM, whether by background, industry, or purpose, this is your moment.

✨ The doors to the next Career Design Mastermind cohort close on Thursday 2nd October. There are just a few places left.

Reflective Journal Prompts

• ☕ What am I avoiding in my career right now, and why?
• ☕ Where might short-term discomfort lead to long-term relief or clarity?
• ☕ If I believed change was possible in the next six months, what would I do differently today?

As always, I’m just an email away, whether you’re questioning what’s next, stuck in a role that no longer fits, or ready to build your legacy intentionally.

Keep opening up,

Hannah

P.S. Ready to stop circling the “homework” and start creating your future? Here’s how I can support you:

• 📖 Step 1: Take the Career Accelerator Scorecard
• 💻 Step 2: Join the next Intentional Careers™ Workshop
• ➡️ Step 3: Book a free 1-2-1 Strategy Session
• ✨ Step 4: Apply for the Career Design Mastermind - only a few places remain for Cohort 10

P.P.S. Now booking keynotes for 2026. Let’s create a culture of sustainable leadership and intentional impact where you work.