From Stuck to Strategic: 3 Shifts Every Leader Can Make Today

Have you ever felt like your leadership is on “repeat”? Same conversations, same problems, same roadblocks—just with different names and faces? It’s frustrating. You want to move your team forward, but instead, you find yourself spinning in circles.

The truth is that every leader gets stuck. The difference between those who stay stuck and those who move forward is not luck or talent—it’s strategy. And strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just about shifting the way you approach challenges.

Here are three small but powerful shifts that can move you from stuck to strategic:

1. Shift from Quick Fixes to Root Causes

When something’s broken, our natural instinct is to fix it fast. But fast isn’t always effective. Instead of patching the surface problem, ask: “What’s driving this issue underneath?”

• If your team keeps missing deadlines, is it really about time management—or is it unclear priorities?

• If conflict keeps bubbling up, is it really about personalities—or is it a lack of trust?

When you address the root cause, you don’t just solve the problem—you prevent it from coming back.

2. Shift from Busyness to Focus

Busy leaders look impressive, but strategic leaders make an impact. The calendar packed with back-to-back meetings may feel productive, but often it’s just noise.

Try asking yourself: “What’s the one thing I could do this week that would create the most value for my team?” Then do that first. Strategy isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most.

3. Shift from Lone Decisions to Shared Ownership

Leaders who make all the decisions create dependency. Leaders who invite their team into decisions create momentum.

The next time you’re tempted to hand down an answer, pause and ask your team: “What do you think?” or “How would you solve this?” You’ll be surprised by the creativity and buy-in that comes when ownership is shared.

Final Thought

Getting unstuck isn’t about waiting for inspiration—it’s about making intentional shifts. Focus on root causes, prioritize what matters, and build shared ownership. These are the kinds of habits that move you (and your team) from survival mode into strategy mode.