Leader Unstuck
Every leader gets stuck - here's how to get out of it.
Leader Unstuck
We work with some of the smartest, most accomplished people on the planet. Some are individual contributors, but most are running large teams, large companies or are innovating some of the coolest world-changing products and services. So it's reasonable to expect that these world changers know how to manage the flow of their work, their lives and their careers...right? What we know at T.A.P., from our own experience and from the clients we serve, is that knowing what to do - or even what to do next - is one of the biggest myths of leadership. Just because someone is in charge doesn't mean that they know everything - including knowing what to do when they feel stuck.
What Being Stuck Looks/Feels Like
For some, feeling stuck means feeling a constant cycle of pressure and stress. For others, it may be the reality of rarely being able to think creatively or constructively because of the demands of one's business or personal obligations. And still for others, it may simply be a sense that they are unfulfilled or stagnant. Some of our coaches have heard that the leaders we work with experience unexplained sadness, intense anxiety or general feelings of being uninterested in their work or lives. Leaders are no different than anyone else - sometimes they struggle with what to do, or what to do next.
If that's you, or someone you know, here are the three things to do to reclaim your sense of progress:
Get focused. Our coaches use proven techniques to help our clients gain clarity about what's most important in their work and/or personal lives. We work together to make decisions about what comes first, or what comes next.
Connect to your purpose. We all have things we don't like to do. But if you are exhausted by a majority of your work or personal life, it's time to take stock. Sometimes it's simply about discovering what excites you in the work you're doing. Sometimes it's about having the support to recognize that your opportunity may lie on the other side of your fear. Are you holding on to responsibilities that need to be delegated? Don't have the leadership bench strength to do what you need to do? What hard conversations do you need to have (with your team or with yourself)? What we discover, time after time, is that you are probably closer than you realize.
Develop perspective. As we say here at T.A.P., "perspective is the anchor that holds you when the winds of life and career blow." What's your perspective? What's informing how you see opportunity, change, setbacks, your relationships? What's an alternative way of looking at the things that are causing you to feel stuck? Developing perspective is a habit, as much as it is a skill. Above all else, sometimes developing perspective is as basic as asking for help.
Being Stuck Isn't Fatal
One of the core functions of a leader is to pursue the imbalance and imperfection of work and/or life. Instead of being paralyzed by failure, we face it. Instead of being crushed by disappointment, we learn from it. Instead of running from difficulty, we build new skills to navigate it. Instead of staying stuck in a rut, we pry ourselves out and shake ourselves off to conquer what’s next. And for many of us, we help others do the same.
If we are leading well, we have enough margin to lift our heads up from the day-to-day to look at the bigger picture. It's when we get lost in the details and "the doing" that work and home can feel suffocating.
That feeling of being stuck begins to affect how we show up - in almost every facet of work and life. What I know for sure is that when we give ourselves permission, as leaders, to acknowledge that we are stuck, we begin to unlock progress.
Let go of the lie that you always have to have it together. Being stuck as a leader isn’t fatal. It’s normal. What separates strong leaders from weak ones is being able to carve a path to get unstuck.
Identify what exhausts you and what energizes you.
Note: This article is provided as non-medical insight. Please work with your medical providers to make healthy, informed decisions about your health and wellness. T.A.P. does not provide medical advice or counsel.
T.A.P. coaches are experienced business leaders, certified in coaching, adult learning and/or organizational development methods that can help individuals and organizations make measurable progress.
We also recognize the irreplaceable value of licensed mental health professionals, who may be able to help a leader unlock, address and even heal what has happened in the past that has prevented them from moving forward.
Your medical provider is a great place to start, but if you need a referral, we'd be delighted to refer you to a licensed professional as a start to your journey to getting unstuck. We reserve the right to make referral to independent practitioners that you are welcome to contact at your own risk.
Ready to get unstuck? Do you have a leader who could use some support getting unstuck? T.A.P. can help. Reach out today for a complimentary assessment at support@tapexecutivecoaching.com or call (678) 626-7028.
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