Facing a Roadblock? Here’s How 20 Execs Overcome Obstacles
When the Going Gets Tough, These Leading Experts Have Had the Tenacity to Keep It Moving Through Each Struggle.
Taking on a leadership role in the workplace may seem daunting if you don’t have the right mindset. You’ll need to address just as many challenges as the wins you celebrate—so it’s not a position designed for the faint of heart.
If you’re feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or underappreciated, it’s essential to prioritize what matters most, take a step back, and consider the bigger picture. There is usually a silver lining in most situations.
Whether you decide to stay in the game for the long haul and find the best solution, or you’re ready to take a risk and consider your next career move, the experts from Fast Company Executive Board describe how they’ve maintained their own positivity during a difficult time in their career. Below are 20 best practices to help other professionals do the same.
1. Avoid Overburdening Yourself—Learn to Say ‘No.’
Trying to manage everyone’s expectations while executing what you are tasked to do, or learning to say “no,” is the hardest thing I’ve had to overcome. Learn to say “no” when appropriate. – Akram Khalis, MHT Technologies LLC
2. Implement Project Management Tools to Keep Your Team Aligned
We initially struggled with brainstorming and aligning ideas when transitioning to a fully remote company. Overcoming this challenge required open discussions and the discovery of effective tools. We began with Jamboard and eventually settled on Mural, which helped us drive purposeful virtual collaborations and achieve the outcomes we sought. – Jacob Orrin, Merit
3. Take a Breath—Then Prioritize What’s Most Important
There have been times where as a CEO I’ve tried to tackle too much. Sometimes, when on the ground, you can’t see it in real time. But suddenly, things become a slog and you have a backlog of issues to deal with. Slowing down, taking a moment to breathe and step away, and coming back with fresh eyes allows for perspective. The solution for me was to prioritize the most important items and take action. – Richard RB Botto, Stage 32
4. Get Involved With Opportunities That Promote Career Growth
I had a professional roadblock after my manager left because I did their work and mine. I discussed this with the VP and they said I should keep taking on the former manager’s workload without compensation. So I started to learn what I needed to know so I could apply for the job. They still didn’t want to acknowledge what I was doing. As a result, I used the skills I learned and found work elsewhere. – Alexander Kwapis
5. Find the Positive in a Negative Situation
A search firm called me in 2019 to lead a turnaround assignment. My first day as CEO was March 16, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic shut us down the very next day. Unfortunately, I cut the team in half to restructure and lost millions in revenue. We have since doubled revenue and have seen five times more growth in client engagement. Seeing the pandemic as an opportunity to pivot rather than a problem was the key. – Anthony Flynn, Amazing CEO LLC
6. Ignore Colleagues Who Try to Knock You Off Course
Know your value. When you feel marginalized because of your gender, age, race, or experience, trust your gut—it won’t let you down. Don’t let the negative perceptions of colleagues knock you off course. Try to overcome roadblocks, but if you find you can’t, then choose a different path. – Kendra Davenport, Easterseals
7. Hire a Career Coach to Address Your Issues
For me, it was working with an executive coach. I was extremely conflict-avoidant, and it was causing huge problems in my job. It was a lot of work to build a new muscle, but it completely changed the trajectory of my career. – Cathy Graham, Desert Financial Credit Union
8. Go With Your Gut Instinct and Switch Roles
I started my career in PR but wanted to shift into marketing. I took a chief of staff role and spent years learning go-to-market strategy, operations, and finance. – Mack McKelvey, SalientMG
9. Get Resourceful—Use Automation to Do More With Less
I relied on resourcefulness and automation to push through challenges and turn constraints into opportunities. – Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
10. Be a Persistent Problem Solver
Instead of accepting the status quo, I committed to solving the problem. Persistence and problem-solving are key to overcoming roadblocks. – Eddy Azad, Parsec Automation Corp.
11. Be Ready and Willing to Adapt to Changing Conditions
Facing near bankruptcy, we reinvented ourselves by focusing on growth sectors and gradually recovered. – Scott Brandon, TBA Worldwide
12. Demonstrate Resilience by Proposing New Ideas
Instead of dwelling on setbacks, take initiative and propose solutions aligned with business needs. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
13. Focus on the Value You’re Adding Rather Than Volume
Reducing multitasking and focusing on value-added work helped me become more productive and content. – Ruchir Nath, Dell Technologies
14. Seek Support From Colleagues and Advocate for Yourself
Consistently advocating for yourself and building alliances helps overcome bias and roadblocks. – Maria Alonso, Fortune 206
15. Create a Positive Microculture for Your Team
Creating a positive microculture empowers teams to thrive even in difficult environments. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
16. Speak Up—Disrupt
Questioning norms can shine a light on inefficiencies and drive meaningful progress. – Beth Jannery, Titan
17. Take a Risk and Bet on Yourself
Leaving a role without a backup plan was the catalyst I needed to start my own company. – Jacqueline Samira, Howdy
18. Focus on the Possibilities, Not the Roadblock
By focusing on possibilities rather than obstacles, I was able to pivot successfully. – Bob Sprague, Yes&
19. Journal to Track Your Feelings and Interests While Networking
Journaling and networking broadly helped me discover my next opportunity. – Barry Lowenthal, Inuvo, Inc.
20. Make Bold Moves to Find a Fulfilling Role
Making a bold pivot away from an unfulfilling role led to long-term satisfaction. – Steve Dion, Dion Leadership
