Thriving Across Borders:
breaking free from career stagnation in global roles
for professional women in the international corporate world
Thriving Across Borders:
breaking free from career stagnation in global roles
for professional women in the international corporate world
Are you a mid- to senior-level leader in an international career, feeling increasingly disconnected from your role?
What is your Attachment Style at work?
Well, you’re not alone.
Many successful women working across borders eventually hit a point where something feels off. You’ve climbed the corporate ladder, adapted to new environments, and achieved significant milestones, but now you’re stuck. The enthusiasm you once felt has dimmed, and you’re not making the impact you know you’re capable of.
What’s going on?
One of the most overlooked factors keeping you stuck is your attachment style at work. How you relate to others—your team, colleagues, and leaders—unconsciously influences how you show up in your career. Attachment styles, developed from early life experiences, play out in our professional lives, affecting communication, relationships, and the way we handle stress.
When these patterns go unchecked, they lead to feelings of imposter syndrome, stagnation, and a sense of being held back despite your qualifications and hard work. For instance, an anxious attachment style causes you to overwork, constantly seeking validation from others while never feeling truly satisfied. Avoidant style makes you withdraw from key opportunities or resist asking for help. Disorganised attachment makes you feel stuck in cycles of doubt, lacking clarity on what your next move should be.
These subconscious patterns keep you in roles that no longer serve you, reinforcing feelings of inadequacy and preventing growth. You find yourself overworking, feeling like it’s never enough, and questioning your abilities.
This cycle keeps you stuck in a pattern of career stagnation. But it’s not about you—it’s about the patterns that are playing out beneath the surface.
The Peter Principle and Misalignment
When attachment style patterns go unaddressed, they lead you into a situation known as the Peter Principle. You’ve worked hard, climbed the ranks, and adapted, but your attachment-driven behaviours—whether it’s overworking for validation, avoiding new challenges, or doubting your abilities—eventually land you in a role where the demands no longer align with your natural strengths. This misalignment isn’t a reflection of your ability but rather a result of staying stuck in unconscious patterns.
Especially in international roles, where the complexities of cultural differences and global expectations are heightened, these attachment-driven behaviours exacerbate the disconnect. When you operate from these patterns, you stop thriving, promotions slow down, and career growth stalls—leaving you in exactly the wrong place, feeling more disconnected than ever.
The worst part? That we blame ourselves.
Instead of seeing the situation for what it really is—a combination of attachment-driven behaviours and role misalignment—you internalise the struggle. You focus on what you think are your failures and overlook the success that got you this far. This is what really keeps you stuck.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
You can absolutely thrive across borders, no matter where you are in your career right now. By understanding your attachment style and how it impacts your career, you can break free from these patterns and realign with roles that let you make the impact you’re meant to make.
And this is where I come in.
I’m Els Bosma, and I help women just like you. Women who are mid- to senior-level leaders in international careers and feel disconnected from their current roles. Together, we’ll not only address the unique challenges of leading across borders, but also uncover how your attachment style may be playing a role in your career stagnation.
We’ll create a strategy that breaks these patterns, rebuilds your confidence, and positions you for success. You’ll reconnect with your strengths and align them with a role that truly fits you—one where you can make the impact you’re meant to make. By understanding these deeper dynamics, you can break free from the old cycle of doubt and disconnection.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. My clients have been where you are now—feeling stuck and disconnected—but they have now reignited their careers, stepped into roles where they shine, and continued making meaningful contributions on the global stage. They’ve found their connection again—to themselves, their work, and their future.
Are you ready to break free from the patterns that have kept you stuck and start thriving again in your international career? Let’s work together to create a clear path forward—one that’s built on a deeper understanding of yourself and your strengths so you can thrive across borders.
“Before I met Els, my life was turbulent, and I lost my job and my dreams. This was when I got in touch with Els, and I was immediately impressed by her. What I like about Els is that she is not vague or woolly. She is very hands-on. She helps you to set priorities in your development. Els is a true guide who accompanies you during the whole journey and not only that one hour of sessions. I set myself 3 concrete goals that I want to reach in life. The beauty of working with Els is that she not only deals with your career but also what you want to change in your private life. I am 100% convinced of her methods. Believe me, but more important: Believe Els!”
Let’s connect for a free discovery call and explore how to break the patterns keeping you stuck. Together, we’ll create a clear path forward that aligns with your strengths and goals.
It’s time for you to thrive across borders again!
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