Facing New Challenges Within the Company: Embracing Growth Through Change

At the end of last year, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and changed teams.

Let me set the scene for you:

I was on my previous team for two and a half years playing a key role as Frontend Engineer. At the time, I had just been part of this important milestone, the go-live for the German market in Berlin. After some hectic months, we were about to calm down a little bit, and have a deserved moment to breathe and think about our next steps as a team.But even before the go-live, I was feeling that I was reaching my end there. I felt that I had reached my plateau, and I didn’t want to stop. So that’s when I went to my Engineering Manager and shared what I was feeling, what were my goals and asked how he could help me through this new adventure.

Of course, this is not as straightforward as it might look, and the path is not always clear, but it should not stop you to move outside of your comfort zone.

Over the next sections, I will share some of the thoughts I had during this period of deciding where to go, and what could I do to be even more productive.

Growth Isn’t Always About Promotions

When we think of professional growth we often think about promotions. It's natural, as it is a clear signifier of evolving in your own role. However, I would like to offer a different perspective, because growth is so much more than just a promotion which, to be fair, is dependent on many other circumstances that we often don't control.

I once heard: "Opportunities comes from responsibilities", which made me think of a different approach.

At first, moving to another team might seem like just a lateral move. But when you shift your perspective, you realize it opens new doors. It’s an opportunity to learn, build new connections, and strengthen your alignment with the company’s vision and values. Moreover, it shows that you’re someone the company can trust, someone who’s invested not just in personal gain, but in the bigger picture.

Choosing to Move with Intention

Deciding to change teams wasn’t something I took lightly. I dedicated time thinking about what I wanted to achieve next: new technical challenges, different dynamics, and fresh perspectives.

I also considered where I could make a real impact. No team is perfect from the start, but finding a space where my skills and aspirations could grow was essential. Taking the time to reflect before making the move made the transition much smoother. My Engineering Manager was very important here, as he had a bigger picture of what were my goals, and what which teams could be a match.

Starting Over, and Staying Patient

Joining a new team often means stepping into an environment with its processes, history, and ways of working. Of course it’s inside the same company, but besides that, it’s a completely different world. In the beginning, it’s normal to feel a little out of place - almost like starting in a new role. Recognizing that, helped me stay patient with myself and the process.

As a Frontend Engineer, one thing that stood out right away was how valuable it is to experience different ways of organizing projects. Each team approaches architecture, structure, and even decision-making a bit differently. Seeing these variations helped broaden my technical vision and reminded me that there’s rarely just one right way to reach a solution.

At the same time, I didn’t burn any bridges with my previous team, that was really important to me. Maintaining those connections gave me a sense of continuity and support, making the transition feel less like starting from scratch and more like expanding my professional world.

Making the Most of a Fresh Perspective

One advantage of being new is seeing things with fresh eyes. You notice patterns, gaps, and opportunities that others might have stopped seeing. I tried to lean into that, sharing observations early on, while I still had an "outsider’s" perspective.

Sometimes, it’s by asking simple questions, the kind you’re only able to ask when you’re new, that you help teams reflect, adjust, and improve.

Finding Ownership and Belonging

One of the turning points during the transition was when I chose a specific part of the project to focus on. Diving deep into that area helped me build confidence, contribute more effectively, and carve out my place within the team.

Visibility was also key. Volunteering for tasks, offering to present in meetings, and stepping up in discussions helped me integrate faster and made it easier for others to see where I could add value.

Conclusions

Looking back, moving teams wasn’t just about changing my daily work, it was about growing as a professional. It pushed me to adapt, to stay open, and to approach my career with even more intention.

Transitions can feel uncomfortable at first, but they offer a powerful chance to reset, reconnect with your goals, and see yourself and your company from a new perspective.

As soon as I joined this new team, that initial feeling of “reaching my plateau” was gone, and at that moment I knew that it was a good move.

If there’s one thing this experience reinforced for me, it’s that growth comes from movement. Staying still might feel safe, but real development happens when you’re willing to step into something new and embrace the unknown.

So as my mom always says, "keep moving!"