Being busy has become a badge of honour. Long hours, constant deadlines, back-to-back meetings, it all feels like progress. Many people assume that if they’re flat out, they must be moving forward in their career.

The reality is very different. Some of the busiest professionals I speak to are also the most stuck. They’re working hard, delivering plenty, yet going nowhere.

Progression isn’t measured by workload. It’s measured by development, exposure, and where your role is actually taking you.

The Difference Between Stretch and Strain

There’s a big difference between being stretched and being strained.

Being stretched usually means:

• You’re learning new skills

• You’re exposed to bigger or more complex projects

• You’re trusted with responsibility that leads somewhere

Being strained often looks like:

• Doing the same tasks faster and under more pressure

• Covering gaps in understaffed teams

• Working longer hours without gaining anything new

The danger is that strain gets mistaken for growth. Over time, people become very efficient at a role they’ve already outgrown, without actually moving forward.

Why “Busy” Doesn’t Impress Hiring Managers

When hiring managers review CVs, they’re not interested in how overwhelmed someone was. They’re looking for progression.

That means evidence of:

• Increasing responsibility

• New skills or technical development

• Broader exposure within a business or sector

• Clear forward movement, not just endurance

Simply saying you handled high workloads or tight deadlines doesn’t show where you’re heading. It only shows that you coped.

When Being Busy Is a Warning Sign

If you’ve been busy for a long time but nothing has changed, it’s worth asking yourself some honest questions:

• Am I developing, or just coping?

• Is this workload temporary or permanent?

• Do I have a clear progression path?

• Would this role look like a step forward to an external employer?

If the answers make you uncomfortable, that’s usually your sign. Being busy should be a phase, not a long-term strategy.

Comfort Can Keep You Stuck

Many people stay in these roles because they feel secure. They know the systems, the people, and what’s expected of them. Ironically, being busy can also make it harder to leave, there’s never a “quiet moment” to reflect or plan.

Over time, that comfort turns into inertia. The market moves on, expectations change, and suddenly a role that once felt demanding now feels limiting.

Final Thought

Hard work matters... but it needs to lead somewhere.

A good role should challenge you, develop you, and move you forward. If you’re constantly busy but not progressing, it’s worth stepping back and asking whether your role is serving your career or simply consuming it.

And if you want an honest conversation about whether your workload is helping or holding you back, I’m always happy to talk it through.