Stuck in a Leadership Rut? Here’s How to Move

By Arlen Motz Leadership

Leaders don’t end up in a rut overnight—we drift there. We get busy, stop asking hard questions, and accept patterns that don’t serve us. If that’s you, you’re not broken—and you’re not stuck. You can move.

A Personal Note

I’ve noticed this in my own health. I’ve been choosing convenience food and skipping workouts. Underneath it is a fear of what real success would demand of me. That’s a rut.

Today, I’m naming it and stepping out. I’m speaking to healthy success—and backing it with action. The same shift I use for my health is what I coach leaders to do every day: tell the truth, pick a direction, take the next step.

3 Signs You’re in a Leadership Rut

1. Acceptance replaces ownership. You and the team start assuming, “This is just how it is.” Hard problems get parked.
2. Comfort beats progress. Work stays busy but not purposeful. Risk-taking fades. Meetings feel predictable.
3. Vision—and the why—go quiet. No one talks about where you’re going or why it matters. The mission is assumed, not alive.

If these ring true, you’re in a rut. Good news: you can move today.

3 Moves to Climb Out (Now)

1. Dream beyond reasonable—then pick one bold test.
   Spend 60 minutes looking 12–18 months ahead. Ask: “If we had to 10x impact without 10x resources, what would change?” Choose one testable 90-day bet. Define success in a single sentence.
2. Work with a mentor who tells you the truth.
   Book 45–60 minutes twice a month for the next 90 days. Bring: your outcome, your bottleneck, the decision you’re avoiding, and your next 2–3 moves—with dates.
3. Sell → Listen → Refine → Go.
   Share the why and the plan. Invite objections. Adjust without losing the aim. Assign owners and dates—and start.

3 Takeaways to Pin

• Name it out loud. “We’re in a rut because X. The cost of staying here is Y.” Clarity first.
• Choose one bet. Ruts multiply when everything is a priority. Pick one 90-day bet and publish it.
• Measure momentum weekly. Track two numbers that prove movement. Celebrate progress; adjust quickly.

The 30-Minute Team Agenda

• Why now (5 min): The cost of staying stuck.
• The bet (10 min): What we’re testing for 90 days and how we’ll measure it.
• Objections (10 min): “What could break? What are we missing?” Capture all; mitigate the top three.
• Assignments & dates (5 min): Who does what by when. Publish it.

Quick Self-Check (Score 1–5)

• We talk about our vision and why it matters—often.
• Decisions are made quickly and clearly.
• We take smart risks monthly.
• Meetings create clarity and movement.
• I have a mentor who challenges me.

Taking focused time each week—alone and with your team—can save months of lost momentum and revenue. Take hold of your success and the success of each person on your team. They matter.

Arlen Motz

Arlen Motz Leadership

Resources

Stress and Leadership – Arlen Motz Leadership Blog

Buy Back your Time – Dan Martell