There’s always a lot of pressure and risk involved with changing jobs, no matter which stage in life you’re in, but when you’re an executive who has been settled into in a senior role for a number of years, the transition can seem pretty daunting.

A new career direction can cause major upheaval in your life and it doesn’t take long for the stress and uncertainty involved to take its toll, making an already complicated process even more difficult. However, it’s important to stay positive and approach your new role with the correct mindset.

Here are a few great tips to keep in mind:

• Leave your current role on good terms if possible. Your former colleagues could become valuable networking resources somewhere down the line – remember, it’s impossible to know what the future holds.

• If there were issues or dramas around your previous roles, now is the time to let them go. Learn from your mistakes, adjust your attitude if you need to – and move on.

• Don’t frame your previous or current employer or workmates in a negative light – especially during job interviews or networking sessions. Neither clients nor employers will be keen to work with an overly negative person – especially if there is a chance that they could eventually become a target for your negativity!

• Be aware of your own emotional state. Many executives who are used to projecting confidence and success struggle when it comes to new roles or new stages in their career. Everyone goes through big changes in their working lives and it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t let pride or awkwardness cloud your judgement or get in the way of new opportunities.

• Look after yourself. Make sure that you’re talking to your family, friends and peers about what is happening to you. If you’re worried about your situation or your emotional state, use your support network – there are people who care about you as a person, not you as an executive. Remember: you are not your job.

A career transition provides a great opportunity for self-reflection, to assess your objectives, paths and goals. What do you want to achieve with your working life? Have your priorities changed or do you still have the mindset you did when starting out? Everybody’s path is different and there are no wrong answers, but finding a goal you are passionate about will help you focus and get you moving in the right direction.

It’s so important to tread your own path and remember that every step is a learning exercise. Finding the perfect next stage in your career can take time, so remember to stay positive, take care of yourself and celebrate what you have achieved on your journey so far.