What to do when you’re stuck in a rut
We all get stuck in a rut sometimes.
These places we find ourselves in often looked attractive to us at first; they may have served us well at some point; and they may have a certain appeal with the comfort they offer. However, they are no longer useful to us.
Work ruts can be dead-end jobs where people’s talents are under-utilised; teams which have lost their focus and stopped generating results; and organisations that have ceased to grow or change. In our broader lives our ruts may be dysfuncitonal relationships, habits which are doing us harm, and patterns of thinking that impede us.
Being in a rut sometimes involves a sense of security in the familiar. However, any good that comes from this is outweighed by drudgery and boredom; a feeling of being on a treadmill; the lack of any growth or improvement; limited learning; and under-utilised skills.
When we make the escape from the ruts we are in things can feel a little overwhelming at first. Usually this feeling short-lived, and is replaced by the excitement of new possibilities; increased engagement and joy; a sense of heading somewhere worthwhile; a willingness and ability to change; and real growth in your life or your work.
If you're stuck in a rut and want to get out of it here are some steps:
Be honest about your current situation
Be clear that you really want to get out of the situation
Develop a clear vision of where you want to be
Figure out the steps you need to take, making sure the first couple of actions are especially clear
Gather up as much energy, courage and support as you can find
Take a deep breath and make the shift that's needed
Sometimes it takes major action to climb out of a deep rut. For example, it may be necessary to find a completely new type of work; teams may need to restructure; and organisations may need to reinvent themselves. When our ruts are not so deep a series of smaller changes will often be enough to help us make our escape and start heading in the right direction.
The reward for getting out of a rut is a more productive, fulfilled, interesting life, in which each day offers something new and we can become our very best selves. For teams, escaping from ruts gives renewed focus and enables generation of new ideas and approaches. And for organisations, getting out of ruts enables renewed replaces stagnation and decline with prosperity and success.
All the best getting out of those ruts and getting back on track!