What is the difference between 'recognizing' indicators of stagnation and 'diagnosing' its root causes?

'Recognizing' indicators of stagnation involves identifying the observable signs and symptoms that suggest a lack of career growth or progression. This is essentially identifying the 'what' – what are the visible signals that something is amiss. Examples of indicators include a lack of new challenges, absence of promotion opportunities, consistently receiving average performance reviews, or feeling that skills are underutilized. A project manager might recognize stagnation if they have been in the same role for several years without any increased responsibility or opportunities to manage larger, more complex projects. 'Diagnosing' the root causes, on the other hand, goes deeper by investigating the underlying factors that are contributing to the stagnation. This is about understanding the 'why' – why are these indicators present? Diagnosis requires a more thorough analysis to uncover the specific organizational, personal, or environmental factors that are driving the stagnation. For instance, the root cause of the project manager's stagnation might be a lack of leadership development programs within the organization, or a personal fear of taking on greater responsibility. Recognizing is a surface-level observation, while diagnosing is an in-depth investigation to identify the fundamental reasons behind the observed symptoms. Effective career navigation requires both: first recognizing the signs, and then diagnosing the causes to develop targeted solutions.