Getting Unstuck

Happy Thursday!  Here’s what you need to know in tech in under 2 minutes…

What tech leaders should be thinking about this week:  How to (successfully) navigate feeling“stuck” as an organizational leader. It’s interesting – I’ve found that most folks in tech think of stagnation coming from the individual contributor community. But now more than ever, I’ve worked with a ton of leaders who are asking themselves “What the heck am I even doing?”  Here’s how you can come-out ahead if you’re feeling the same:

Acknowledge that you’re in a weird (stuck) time. You could even name it (“Middle Management Blues” or “Late 40s Quicksand”). Giving the feeling some light-of-day gets you out of your head.

1. Go-back to when you’ve been here before (we all have). What worked then? Anything you might try again?

2. Get physical. Here are my go-to’s: smiling, walks, reading magazines/books, working amongst coffee shop noise, music, etc.

3. See what’s out there. Maybe the grass is greener? Check-out other job.

4. Slack-off – with a deadline. I bet you could end work early if you wanted. 4-day weekend on the horizon? Happy hour calling your name? You get my drift.  

Why this is important:  Getting stuck is part of the tech experience(even with leaders). But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world (or a sign that you’re not adding organizational value). Let me repeat that:  Just because you’re in a weird spot right now doesn’t mean you’re not successful or contributing to the organizational bottom-line. Rather, I coach leaders that it’s probably a time to focus on yourself, get outside, or have a little fun.

Where you’ll see impact:  You’ll come-out a better leader when you work through that stuck feeling.  Dozens of clients who I’ve worked with tell me they:

1. Feel a huge sense of accomplishment when they start feeling more engaged again. Another “win” for the record-book!

2. Have perspective if/when employees experience feeling stuck themselves (or you see signs of them getting stuck)

3. Bring a ton of interesting stories to future interviews.Talk about the S-T-A-R model coming to life!

4. Had a little fun (maybe even during the workday).  Shhhhhhhh! I won’t say anything!

Value Add – Additional ways to show-up as a leader:  Perspective is another way to tackle feeling stuck.  One of my favorite experiences to gain some bigger-thinking? Checking-out the fall colors as a full-fledged “peeper” in Vermont.  What’s your favorite way to get some perspective?

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Here’s to your Engaged Pursuit!