Back from holiday? Is it time to rethink your specialist role?

When a holiday creates space for reflection

Some realisations only emerge when life slows down. Perhaps it happened during a walk. Perhaps over a quiet morning coffee without your calendar in front of you. Or perhaps you simply noticed how much energy you had when you were not constantly switching between tasks, responding to requests, or explaining your area of expertise.

Then everyday life returns. Emails, meetings and deadlines once again fill your calendar.

And perhaps one question comes to mind:

Is it really my job that is the problem? Or is it my role as a specialist?

What did your holiday reveal?

When we step away from our daily routines, it becomes easier to see them more clearly.

Perhaps you realised that you spend most of your time dealing with urgent tasks instead of doing what you were actually hired to do. Perhaps your expertise is not being used to its full potential. Or perhaps you constantly feel the need to prove your value, even though you are the person others turn to for advice.

Many specialists get used to this. Not because it works well, but because it gradually becomes the norm.

If your holiday changed the way you see your working life, it is worth exploring why.

Perhaps it is not about finding a new job

When job satisfaction starts to decline, it is easy to assume that changing jobs is the answer.

But often, the challenge is not the organisation. It is the role you have as a specialist.

Many specialists experience unclear expectations, difficulties prioritising their time, or a lack of recognition for their expertise. Others struggle to gain influence, even though they possess the deepest knowledge in their field.

These are challenges that can often be addressed without changing employers.

You do not necessarily need a new direction. You may simply need to develop your role.

If your holiday left you with a feeling that something is not quite right, it is worth paying attention to it.

The next step may not be updating your CV. It may be strengthening the skills that help you create visible results, communicate your value, and navigate your specialist role with greater confidence.

The more clearly you define your role as a specialist, the easier it becomes to influence decisions, gain recognition for your expertise, and create greater value for both your organisation and yourself.

What can you do right now?

You do not need to map out your entire career today. But you can start by exploring what is really on your mind:

• Write down what gave you energy during your holiday and what you did not miss about your everyday working life.
• Ask yourself whether it is your job or the way your specialist role is structured that is causing your frustration.
• Talk to your manager, a colleague or a mentor about how you can increase your impact and create greater value in your current role.
• Consider which skills could help you strengthen your position as a specialist.

Your expertise is a major part of the value you bring as a specialist. But your ability to create results, collaborate effectively and make your expertise visible is just as important.

Perhaps that is exactly what your holiday helped you realise.