Figure It Out!: Six Tips to Help Get Unstuck
Success is never guaranteed. Even the most well-established companies and organizations experience periods of challenge and difficulty. From external factors like market fluctuations and economic downturns to internal challenges such as poor management decisions, hiring difficulties, or lack of innovation, there are many obstacles that organizations encounter on their path to success. This scenario can be frustrating and demoralizing for employees, management, and stakeholders alike. Here, we will explore options to spark a movement, initiate momentum, and help leaders, teams, and organizations confront these challenges and get back on the path to success.
“There is only one way to do it, and that's to do it”. This is my favorite quote to use when leaders, teams, or organizations find themselves up against significant inertia to change or progress. The quote resonates and simplifies things. When a challenging project or situation is distilled down, there really are only two options; do it and figure it out, or pivot to something else.
If “the thing” is worth achieving, but the team is stuck, here are six actions leaders, teams, and organizations can take to help overcome the organizational or creative inertia and start to reactivate the momentum.
1) Dive In
When it comes to business, getting "stuck" can happen to even the most successful companies. Whether it's hitting a plateau in growth or facing unexpected challenges, feeling stuck can be frustrating and demotivating. However, the key to overcoming this state of stagnation is to act and dive in. Analysis paralysis or overthinking a situation can lead to further inaction and prolong the feeling of being stuck. Simply acting or taking the next logical step, even if it's small, can help organizations gain momentum and make progress toward their goals. It allows for experimentation and learning through trial and error and can lead to valuable insights that can inform future decision-making. By diving in, teams can break free from the cycle of stagnation and move forward with renewed energy and purpose.
2) Engage your team
Each of our team members brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the organization. Tapping into this diversity of skill and thought can lead to improved innovative and more effective solutions. Additionally, involving team members in problem-solving processes helps increase their sense of ownership and investment in the success of the organization. By engaging the team, leaders can also benefit from their collective knowledge and experience, which can help identify blind spots or areas for improvement that otherwise might have been overlooked or unidentified. Ultimately, engaging the team in the process of tackling difficult business challenges not only can lead to better outcomes but can foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning within the organization. It’s a win-win.
3) Question Your Assumptions
It's natural to rely on assumptions and preconceived notions. However, these assumptions can be biased and limit thinking, preventing the consideration of alternative approaches or perspectives. It's crucial to question assumptions, especially as they relate to biases, and seek out diverse viewpoints to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenge at hand. By challenging assumptions, leaders can uncover hidden biases or flawed logic that may be influencing their decision-making. This can lead to a deeper level of critical thinking and promote a culture of diversity of thought, where alternative viewpoints are valued and considered. Diverse perspectives can help organizations avoid the pitfalls of groupthink and find innovative solutions to difficult challenges.
4) Observe Other Processes or Systems to Make Connections
When trying to solve challenging problems, it is easy to get stuck in a narrow mindset and potentially miss viable solutions. Observing other seemingly unrelated processes or systems can be a valuable strategy for sparking new ideas and finding innovative solutions. By examining how other industries, fields, or teams approach problem-solving, leaders and employees can gain fresh perspectives and insights that can be applied to their challenges. Observing how a coffee shop manages its customer flow can provide insights into how to optimize a dental provider's patient flow. Looking beyond one's industry can lead to novel ideas and breakthroughs that may not have been identifiable through a more limited problem-solving approach.
5) Network With Other Experts
When facing challenges, using our networks, or networking with experts can be a valuable strategy to help find solutions. Our personal and professional networks can provide access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Additionally, networking with experts or thought leaders in specific fields can provide valuable insights, knowledge, and new perspectives that can inform our decision-making and problem-solving approaches. Through networking, we can also gain access to new resources, partnerships, or potential collaborators that can help us tackle future challenges more effectively.
6) Experiment
Experimenting or using beta tests with potential solutions to organizational challenges can be a helpful strategy for finding solutions. Through rapid prototyping and testing of potential solutions, organizations can quickly identify what might work and probably won’t, allowing them to make necessary adjustments. This approach allows for rapid iteration, where solutions can be tested and refined in shorter periods. This can help address complex problems that may not have clear-cut solutions. Additionally, experimentation can provide valuable feedback from customers or stakeholders, which can inform further development and refinement of the solution.
Wrap Up
When organizations encounter challenges, it is essential to act and get things moving forward. Leaders and teams can overcome organizational inertia and reignite momentum by diving in, engaging their teams, questioning their assumptions, observing other processes or systems, networking with experts inside or outside their organization, and experimenting. By following these six strategies, organizations can position their teams to effectively move through their challenges. Embracing change and confronting challenges head-on can help organizations thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing global business environment.
To learn more about performance improvement solutions that can help you and your team, visit sinclairperformance.com, or book a discovery call here.
About the Author: Dr. Jared Sinclair is the Founder of the Sinclair Performance Institute®, where he helps businesses remove the guesswork of high(er) performance, expand capacity, improve performance, and facilitate growth.
