When work gets busy, it’s easy to miss your own progress. You’re showing up, ticking things off, handling tasks and generally being better… but you might still be wondering: am I actually moving forward?

The truth is, growth doesn’t always feel dramatic. It doesn’t always come with a promotion, a title change, or someone else pointing it out. Sometimes it’s quiet, sometimes it’s subtle, but it’s there!

Here’s how to spot you’ve grown.

• You’re doing things now that used to make you nervous
  That presentation you gave without over-preparing? The client call you led without second-guessing every word? Picking up the phone to call without anxiety rearing its head? These are signs.
  If something that used to feel outside your comfort zone now feels routine, congrats, you’ve grown! Even if you still get nervous, the way you handle it has changed… and that counts for something.
• You catch your own mistakes… before someone else does
  This one’s underrated. Growth isn’t about never getting it wrong. Yes, you’re still human. Rather, it’s about becoming better at catching yourself, asking better questions, and fixing things early.
  If you find yourself thinking, “Wait, this could be clearer,” or “I know how to improve this before sending it off,” that’s progress.
• You give better feedback (and take it better too)
  It takes confidence to give useful, constructive feedback. It also takes confidence to receive it without spiralling or getting defensive. If you’ve noticed yourself doing either of these more calmly, more clearly, and more openly, you’re not just getting better at your job, you’re becoming better to work with.
• You’re more strategic with your time
  You don’t need to have mastered time management… most of us haven’t, but maybe you’re a little better at saying no. You delegate more. You don’t say “yes” without checking in with yourself first. You step back and ask, “Is this the best use of my time?” even if you don’t always like the answer. This is more than simply being efficient – it shows you’ve grown.
• You know what energises you (and what doesn’t)
  This one’s internal, but it’s one of the biggest signs of growth. You’re starting to notice patterns. You know what type of work feels meaningful. You know which projects drain you, and which ones stretch you in the right way. That awareness is the first step to making better career decisions. Not louder, not bigger… just better aligned.
• You’ve stopped needing constant validation
  When you’re new, it’s normal to look for reassurance. But over time, you start trusting yourself.
  You know when something is done well, and you also know when something’s not your best work. You don’t need to check in with the group chat, your girlfriend and your mum for you to know it’s good work…or, maybe, it needs improvement. That internal compass is a sign you’ve levelled up.
• You respond (you don’t react)
  You take a breath before replying to the tricky email. You hold off before jumping to conclusions. You’ve learned that slowing down, even for five seconds, usually leads to better outcomes. You can call it emotional intelligence, but guess what it also is… that’s right: it’s growth!

The bottom line: Progress doesn’t always announce itself!
You might be waiting for a big moment to confirm you’ve grown: a title, a raise, someone else noticing. But often, it shows up in the small, steady shifts: how you speak, how you plan and how you show up.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not stuck. You’re not behind. You’ve grown, and are growing… even if you don’t (or didn’t) realise it. You’ve come further than you think. Now go look in front of a mirror and repeat these last three sentences.

Ready to step it up? Check out our latest job listings here.