When Your Leadership Feels Stuck
It’s easy for anyone to feel overwhelmed, isolated, and uncertain, especially when facing prolonged challenges. But what do you do when you’re feeling that way but are responsible for others who look to you for guidance and action? When leaders feels stuck, it’s crucial to take intentional steps to regain momentum and clarity.
You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck
Here are some practical strategies to help you navigate through the times you feel stuck in life and in leadership.
- Prioritize Physical Well-being Your body is your greatest asset. Prioritize things like getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and regular exercise. Ignoring health issues doesn’t make them go away, it only prolongs the healing process. Take a quick inventory now – are there any health concerns you’ve been avoiding? What are 3 practical steps you can take in the next week to start to address them? Perhaps it’s booking an appointment or scheduling lab work. It might be as simple as researching some vitamin options or downloading an app that reminds you to drink water. Listen to your body and hear what it needs from you.
- Complete the Stress Cycle Handling stressors isn’t enough; you must also deal with the residual stress. Engage in physical activities, whether it’s exercise, deep breathing, or even creative outlets, to help your body process and eliminate stress. Shame researcher Brené Brown found that “Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow, shame.” Creative outlets and hobbies aren’t luxuries, they’re necessities. Pent-up emotions and stress will sideline even the most effective leaders.
- Enhance Self-Awareness Self-awareness is key to overcoming stagnation. Take time to not just reflect on your internal thoughts but also challenge them. What are the stories you tell yourself about others? About yourself? What stories are backed by irrefutable evidence – things a video camera could pick up – and what are being impacted by the lens you are wearing? By knowing your triggers and weaknesses, you can lead more authentically and avoid projecting unresolved issues onto others.
- Cultivate Supportive Relationships Leadership shouldn’t be a solitary journey. Forge deeper connections with others by daring to be vulnerable. Author Jenni Catron says in her book Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence, “As leaders, we must go first in order to give others the gift of going second. Be the first to be truthful. Be the first to be encouraging. Be the first to affirm someone else. Be the first to be generous. Be the first to be compassionate. Be the first to be humble. Be the first not to compare. Be the first to speak truth. Be the first to display faith.”
- Invest in Personal Growth Sometimes, the best way to overcome feeling stuck is to step back and invest in your own growth. Consider attending retreats, workshops, or coaching sessions that focus on self-discovery and leadership development. These experiences can renew your purpose and vision, providing the clarity needed to lead with renewed passion.
Leadership isn’t about never getting stuck—it’s about knowing how to get unstuck and keep moving forward. If you’re ready to move forward and lead with greater purpose, a Crucible men’s or women’s retreat, or working with a certified Crucible coach can be great steps. The best leaders know that in order to be truly effective, the focus has to shift from “how” or “when” to “who.” People come first, and that includes you.