Getting unstuck.

Three years ago I found myself in the middle of a very difficult and challenging situation at work. It was the most challenging of my career. By far. Nothing before or after, has ever come close to the mammoth of a challenge I was facing at that time. I was desperately trying to navigate through a mental minefield. A colleague and I were in a standoff and at opposing ends of how we thought work should be done. Our teams were cross-functional and needed to rely on each other for success. We were both Directors of our respective teams, and our client process intersected at pivotal points.

I was up against it. A wall.

It was exhausting, and for months I started each day reentering a battleground – fighting for my team, my clients, my stakeholders. My reputation.

For months.

It was exhausting. I was exhausted.

Toxic. Its potency was compounded with conflicting styles – personality, approaches, systems, leadership, communication. We were at opposite ends, and the path to alignment was marred with so many craters, dredged from the minefield of disappointments and deteriorated trust. There were times when the path neared convergence, but another betrayal bombshell would land and blow the possibility of conciliation into shattered bits. I would attempt to rebuild again. And again. And again. I realize it sounds dramatic. But at the time, it was. I wouldn’t wish that situation on anyone. It was awful. I was armed only with empathy and conviction for service, in a battle that honored neither.

I was pushed into a corner, and with nowhere else to go – and seemingly nothing left to lose – I came out swinging. It was uncharted territory for me, and I was mentally depleted. I couldn’t resolve the issue. I fought for – and with – my convictions.

Equipped with 15+ years of professional experience in leadership roles, I was ill-prepared for this battle. An innate desire to repair the fractured trust, and make things better was not enough. Sensibility, compassion, and genuine intentions were not enough.

We were at an impasse.

Depleted and empty, I gave up my seat and walked away. I had enough. I was done.

I lost. He lost. Everyone involved lost, to some degree. A battle always has carnage. Always.

I bear the scars. I’m likely not the only one.

I had run out of options. At the time I thought I had done everything. Tried everything. I desperately wanted to fix what was broken.

I was stuck. We both were.

Weakened by our stubborn stance. Stuck in our perspective. Stuck in our respective view. Stuck in our position.

I was ill equipped to navigate this kind of battle. This battle requires a new set of tools.

Like many of you, I’ve done my fair share of reading during this pandemic. 2020 may be a lot of things, but one good thing for me, is a record number of books read. I have devoured books. Fiction, Non-fiction, Self-help. All fair game in my quest for evolving into a better version of myself, and simply getting lost in the wonderment of a good book.

Why am I sharing my story now?

I have stumbled across a book.

A book that has changed me. A book that has provoked an If only. What if?

So, if you’re feeling stuck. Stuck in conflict. Stuck in opposition. Whether it is; opinion, perspective, approach, belief, style, etc. And you’re ready to give up. Give in. Walk away. Or just settle for less than.

Before you do that. Take a breath. Loosen your shoulders, and read this book.

I encourage you to read this book. Just read it. It will expand your thinking, and help you to get unstuck.

I can’t go back. None of us can. What’s done is done. We can only move forward. With purpose and intention. I’m convinced, this book could save many from enduring the battle scars of conflict. These scars are never visible. They settle in your being, just below the surface. They may bear different names but they are all the same – Regret. If only. I wish I did. What if.

If you’re stuck, give yourself the gift of “I hear you.”

You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

If my sharing helps just one person get unstuck, it will be worth it.

With gratitude,

Nicole Osmond

Customer Success Coach

As a Customer Success Coach and 3 X business owner, I am living my passion and helping companies succeed by cultivating a customer committed mindset.

A Writer with Heart – I weave words together to stimulate, elevate, and motivate. My blog is my canvas to share my ‘experience nuggets’ with you! Thanks for stopping by! With gratitude, always – Nicole