Leaders get stuck and can’t
seem to maintain forward momentum.
It happens to all of us at
one time or another. How do you get “unstuck?” Here is Brad Lomenick, founder
of the Catalyst movement, with some simple solutions.
Originally posted by Brad
Lomenick.
Sometimes we just feel stuck.
Not that anything is really wrong, but more the sense that we’re not going
anywhere. That place where you sense that things are okay, but not great. Where
it seems like you are just going through the motions. Dependable and reliable,
yes. Consistent, absolutely.
But not necessarily bringing
your A-game.
I know the feeling. For me,
this usually happens after an event is over, or completing a big project. About
10 days-two weeks later. I usually just feel stuck at that point. I have a hard
time being creative, being intentional, getting things done, moving the ball
forward, and making decisions. I feel like I’m walking in knee deep mud at
these points.
Another time of the year many
of us feel stuck is mid to late summer, right about now. You feeling it right
now?
If so, here are a few things
to do:
1. Get out of your
“normal” routine. Break up your schedule. Go
on a trip. Visit someone you’ve wanted to see for quite a while. Hang out with
people you don’t know but want to learn from. The key on this is break up your
“normal” with something that is out of place, out of context, or just simply
breaks up the rhythm. Makes you see things from a different vantage point. For
me, when I travel, it usually “unsticks” me.
2. Go back to the
Basics. Sports teams will go back
to the basics to get out of a rut. In football it’s back to “blocking and
tackling” or in basketball it’s back to “passing, dribbling, and shooting.” For
you, this could mean a number of things, but in essence, returning to the
foundations of what you do, why you do it, and how you are uniquely designed to
be doing what you are doing.
3. Jump on the
Inspiration train. When I get stuck, I
usually take time to find some stories of inspiration, read some emails, watch
some videos, and allow myself to be re-inspired and re-energized.
4. Talk with
someone who motivates you. I also
like to make sure I find some time to spend on the phone or in person with
people who inspire me, because they usually can pull me out of my funk that I’m
in. Make sure you have some people in your life who are motivators and
inspiration icons- when you are around them it just fires you up. Could be a
friend, a boss, a mentor, or someone you don’t know well. For me, I’ll call Bob
Goff. If you know Bob, you know what I mean!
5. Keep it simple
stupid. Kiss. Figuratively, not
literally…! Start a new to do list with no more than 5 things on it. Get those
done. Then move on to the next 5 things to do. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a
to do list that is unachievable and not reachable. Focus on simplicity and
clarity.
6. Hang around
kids. Whether your own kids or someone
else’s. Children have a way of providing inspiration because of their
imagination, childlike faith, and sense of amazement at everything.
7. Return to the
core. What do you love to do? What brings you
to life? Maybe it’s reading a good book, or taking a drive in the country, or
playing golf, or playing guitar or singing. Reconnecting to our areas of
strength and passion usually reignites the momentum.
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