Career Reframe: From Job Hunting to Role Crafting

Why your career isn't a puzzle with one correct answer – it's a design challenge with infinite possibilities. Listen to the podcast instead, for on the go...

"Don't come to me with a problem, come to me with a solution."

We've all heard this advice. It sounds productive, efficient, smart.

But when it comes to your career challenges, this mindset might be exactly what's keeping you stuck.

After decades working in Digital Product Innovation, managing teams that built apps and digital products for major brands, I learned something crucial that most people get completely wrong about problem-solving – and it changed everything about how I approach career satisfaction.

The Cool Widget Problem

Picture this: A senior executive walks over to the development team and announces,

"I was at a BBQ last weekend, and someone suggested this amazing feature. We should definitely add it to our site. It would be so cool! When can we start on it?"

The team cringes internally.

Not because they don't want to innovate, but because the executive is bringing a solution without understanding what problem it might solve.

In the product world, our first question is always: "What problem is that solving?"

The response from the Exec? "I'm not sure, but it would be a really cool feature!"

This is exactly what happens when you say "I need to find a new job" without understanding what problem you're actually trying to solve.

You're jumping straight to solution mode, just like that executive with their cool widget.

Why Design Thinking Changes Everything

Look around you right now.

Your laptop, your phone, even the chair you're sitting in – everything started with a problem. The problem of "how can I listen to thousands of songs without carrying a suitcase of CDs?" led to music streaming on your phone.

What if we applied that same systematic thinking to creating a work-life you actually love?

Design thinking puts as much emphasis on problem-finding as it does on problem-solving. What's the point of working incredibly hard on the wrong problem?

The process starts with staying curious.

Asking questions.

But most importantly, reframing the problem you think you've identified.

The Power of Reframing: Real Examples

Example 1: "I'm unhappy at work, I need to find a new job"

Let's dig deeper:

Why are you unhappy? "Because I feel undervalued and my ideas aren't being heard."

Why is that important? "Because I'm creative and want to make meaningful impact."

Why does impact matter? "Because I want my work to contribute to something bigger."

Reframe: Instead of "How do I find a new job?" we get "How might I find ways to make meaningful impact through my work?"

Suddenly, your solution space explodes:

• Volunteer to lead a project at your current company

• Start a side initiative on something meaningful

• Join committees or working groups

• Mentor junior colleagues

• Propose process improvements

• Start an internal innovation challenge

• Or yes, find a new job – but now you know exactly what to look for

Example 2: "I need more money, so I need a better-paying job"

Let's explore:

Why do you need more money? "I'm stressed about barely covering expenses."

Why is financial stress a problem? "It keeps me up at night."

What would enough money give you? "Peace of mind and ability to enjoy life."

Reframe: "How might I create financial peace of mind?"

Expanded solutions:

• Negotiate a raise in your current role

• Take on freelance work

• Reduce expenses through budgeting

• Sell existing skills as consulting

• Ask for performance bonuses

• Request higher-level responsibilities

• Start a side business

• Move to lower cost-of-living area

• Monetise a hobby

• Or find a higher-paying job

Notice the pattern?

Each reframe opens up a spectrum of solutions, from small adjustments in your current role to major changes.

The "find a new job" solution is still available, but now it's one option among many – and you know exactly what you're looking for.

My Personal Journey: From Stuck to Strategic

I applied this same process to my own career transition. My initial problem statement was:

"I can't work here any longer. I need to find a new job."

But when I started asking why, revealing answers emerged:

• I needed more freedom to express creativity and have ideas heard

• I didn't enjoy full-time 9-5 hours – I wanted to pick up my kids from school

• I didn't want to spend time dealing with dramas and unhappy stakeholders

• I wanted to lead strategy and decision-making

• I'd love to develop people and bring out their best

  
  

Before this exploration, I had one linear solution: find another job.

After reframing, I had multiple meaningful avenues: freelancing for creative freedom, working for myself to choose hours, consulting to drive strategic direction, coaching to impact lives, or even restructuring my current role.

The solution that emerged was completely different from "find another job" – it became

"design a career that gives me freedom of hours and creative expression, allowing me to bring out the best in others and drive strategic direction, while minimising daily dramas."

Which is exactly what I'm doing today.

Your Reframing Challenge

Here's your homework: try reframing your work-life problem.

Step 1: Write down what goes round in your head all day. What do you think the problem or solution is?

Step 2: Ask "why" questions several times to go deeper. Keep digging until you hit something that feels true and important.

Step 3: Reframe using "How might I..." language based on what you discovered about the real problem.

Examples of reframes:

Instead of "I hate my boss" → "How might I improve my working relationships?"

Instead of "I'm not paid enough" → "How might I increase my perceived value?"

Instead of "I'm bored" → "How might I find more engaging challenges at work?"

Remember: resist diving into solutions immediately.

This is about problem-finding, not solution-jumping.

The better you understand your real problem, the more creative and effective your solutions can be.

The Backward Truth About Problems and Solutions

The next time someone tells you "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions," you can smile knowing how backwards that really is. The best solutions come from deeply understanding the right problems.

Your career isn't a puzzle with one correct answer – it's a design challenge with infinite possibilities. But those possibilities only open up when you stop chasing solutions and start getting curious about problems.

Take some time this week to explore that work-life challenge that's been nagging at you. Ask why it matters. Keep asking until you hit something true and important. Then reframe it as "How might I..." and watch new possibilities emerge.

The solution might surprise you – and it might not require leaving your job at all.

Until next time, keep following that Inkling...

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That’s where I come in. Through a powerful blend of Strengths, Executive, and Career Coaching, I help professionals not just adapt, but thrive.

The workplace is transforming.

With 59% of employees quietly disengaged and 18% actively seeking an exit (Gallup, 2023), job dissatisfaction is at an all-time high.

You already have unique talents—sometimes, they just need to be uncovered.

With the right coaching, skills and knowledge you can turn those talents into strengths, fuelling the confidence to embrace career shifts and workplace change with clarity and purpose.

Empowering you to design your work future.

I’m Binny Langler, your lead coach, dedicated to helping individuals and teams thrive. Founder & Director of The Inkling Effect, with over 20 years of experience coaching professionals to discover and apply their unique strengths to create more

fulfilling and meaningful work.

A certified Executive, Gallup Global Strengths Coach & Career Change Coach - with a Masters of Entrepreneurship & Innovation.