Unlock Leadership Success: Getting unstuck

If you answered, “all of the above,” I feel you. I really do.

Being stuck STINKS. Part of the reason why is that it’s such an unnatural feeling for us as human beings. As a species, we crave clarity, momentum, action, and the thrill of moving forward. We like movement. We operate on movement.

And the hardest part about being stuck is that the more we try to get unstuck, the tougher it can be to break free. 

Why am I talking about being stuck at the beginning of a new year? Well, this time of year can be a little…interesting. You’ve hopefully had some much-deserved time off over the holidays, and you’re coming back to a work culture (and heck—just a culture in general) that’s looking to go from 0-80 mph after a period of sustained rest. 

You got some downtime—you should be raring to go, right? And as a leader, you probably feel like you NEED to be ready to go. Your organization has goals. Your team has goals. YOU have goals. 

And maybe you are, but something invisible is stopping you.

• Overwhelm.

• Indecision.

• Analysis paralysis.

• That feeling of being…stagnant. 

• Simply craving something else.

If that sounds like you, I get it—and I’ve got you. As leaders, it’s not only important that we have strategies for getting ourselves unstuck, it’s also a big part of our jobs as leaders. I’ve talked before about the CTA Framework (Coach/Train/Act), and how when you’re a leader, the amount of time you’ll typically spend coaching is about 80%, and training and acting will take up the remaining 20%. So, helping your team get unstuck is critical to being able to move them—and you—toward positive action, progress, and eventually, your desired results.

Here are two easy strategies you can use to get unstuck today:

Tip #1: Shift your perspective. One of my favorite authors and thinkers is the late Dr. Wayne Dyer, who said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This is 100% true, but it’s one of those truths we don’t often think about when we’re stuck. When you’re looking at a specific situation, remember that you have the power to choose how you look at it differently. 

For a moment, think about being in your house and looking out your front window. Sometimes, there might be road construction, or a house being built across the street from you, and you might not like the view. You can always, ALWAYS, get up and move to a different window. I’m willing to bet there’s another great view through another window—and often where you least expect it.

Your thoughts, feelings, and actions are ALL related—as the amazing Brene Brown says, they’re three legs on the same stool. Change one, and that change will have an effect on the other two. But perspective shifts don’t just happen—you have to work at those—and the best way to do that is to get curious and ask yourself some questions, like:

• What's most important about this, for me? 

• What's the story I want to tell about this situation?

• What's the gift & opportunity in this challenge?

• What if this were fun?

• How would a five-year-old look at this situation? (Seriously. I look at almost every situation through my daughter Betty’s eyes! It gives me a good chuckle AND moves me to action!)

• What advice would my mentor/trusted friend give me about this situation?

• What if I could talk to myself 10 years from now - what advice would they give me about this situation?

Tip #2: Utilize “The Progress Principle.” The Progress Principle states that people are most engaged and fulfilled when they’re making progress in meaningful work. Those are the two essential ingredients: Progress + Meaningful work. So, when we feel good about achieving a goal or crossing something off our to-do list, it’s not just because we did it—it’s because it matters to us. 

Often when we feel stuck, it’s because one of these elements is missing. One of the ways I love to keep both progress and meaningful work at the forefront of my day-to-day is to literally write “PROGRESS + MEANINGFUL WORK” on a Post-It Note. The next time you feel stuck, ask yourself: which one of these elements is missing? If it’s progress, consider the next best small step you can take to move forward. What’s holding you back? And, how do you know when you ARE making progress? Is it something you can track or measure, and how? If it’s meaningful work, it’s time to get clear on what work IS meaningful for you—and The Purpose Quadrants exercise is a great one to help with that.

These might seem like small actions, and that’s the whole point. As with most things, small and steady wins the “unstuck” race. And if you’re still wondering “what’s next?” or “what now?” it might be a nudge to consider coaching. We’re here for you if that’s the case—you can book a call to chat more about that here. 

Read on for additional content and resources on getting unstuck—as always, we’ve got your back!