When Things Are Still not Flowing: A Grounded Way to Move Forward
By Sophie Makonnen
Some challenges may not feel urgent, yet they persist. Energy stalls, conversations falter, and priorities blur. Solutions remain elusive longer than expected.
In my last post, I shared six questions to help you clarify what’s going on before escalating a challenge. This week, I want to share another way of looking at situations that feel stuck; not because you haven’t tried, but because momentum is missing.
Instead of offering a decision tree or crisis protocol, I’m introducing a simple mental framework that helps break through situations where momentum is missing. This framework is called the 4 R’s: Retire, Redirect, Repackage, Reflect.
🌅 Retire: Let Go of What’s Not Serving You
When things aren’t flowing, sometimes it’s not because of what’s missing; it’s because of what we’re still holding on to.
“Retire” is about letting go. Not in a dramatic or reactive way, but deliberately: a conscious decision to stop clinging to something that no longer helps. This could be a way of working, an old assumption, a story you’ve told yourself, or even a dynamic you’ve been maintaining out of habit.
For example:
Perhaps you believe you must solve this alone, even when it clearly requires broader input.
Alternatively, you might try to win over someone who’s no longer invested, wasting time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere.
You may stay overly involved in details because you’ve always been reliable, even as your role changes.
Or remain tied to a program design that no longer fits reality, out of concern for donor expectations or internal politics.
Letting go isn’t giving up. It frees mental and emotional space to focus on what matters now. You can do it quietly or make it visible to model healthy decisions for others.
Ask yourself:
What am I holding on to that’s keeping me stuck?
What’s no longer mine to carry?
↪️ Redirect: Focus on What Can Move
When things feel stuck, the instinct is to push harder. But often, the best move is to redirect your energy.
Redirecting isn’t giving up. It means stepping back to ask: What else is possible right now? Where is there still movement?
You might not get a full green light today, but you can clarify the next question, build support with a different team, or draft a proposal to be ready when timing shifts.
Examples:
Instead of waiting indefinitely for a delayed decision, you focus on strengthening alignment among peers.
If a process is bottlenecked, you use the time to document gaps or gather small wins elsewhere.
If a conversation is going nowhere, you shift your ask—or your audience.
Redirecting is not about distraction. The main idea is to respond to what the moment allows—finding traction in another part of the system, instead of burning energy where there’s none.
Ask yourself:
Where am I putting energy that isn’t yielding anything?
What’s within reach that I’ve been overlooking?
📦 Repackage: Shift the Frame, Not Just the Facts
Sometimes the situation doesn’t change, but how you talk about it can. “Repackage” means changing how a problem or idea is framed, so it resonates differently or reveals new options.
If a conversation goes in circles, or others don’t see the urgency, it may be time to ask:
How am I presenting this? Could I tell the story differently, without losing the truth?
Repackaging isn’t spinning or sugar-coating. It’s choosing words, context, or framing that fit better now. What’s “just another ask” becomes meaningful when shown as a risk, opportunity, or pattern.
Examples:
A local partner’s stalled training program can be presented not just as “capacity building,” but as readiness preparation for an upcoming regional initiative.
Presenting an issue as part of a broader trend, not a one-off problem.
Reframing a stalled proposal in terms of what it unlocks for another team.
Repackaging can also help you regain credibility by showing that you’ve listened, adapted, and are offering a new angle, rather than simply repeating yourself.
Ask yourself: What story am I telling? Is there another version that brings more clarity or momentum?
A small shift in framing can open closed doors.
It's not about moving “forward” but about moving differently.
🧠 Reflect: Turn the Moment into Learning
Even if things don’t go as you hoped, reflection makes every outcome a learning opportunity. Pausing to consider what you can learn unlocks value from any experience.
Reflection doesn’t require a formal review. It can be as simple as taking 10 minutes to note what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d do differently. This step is easy to skip, especially in fast-paced environments. Without it, you risk repeating frustrations or missing insights that could help later.
You might reflect on:
What patterns did you notice—around communication, decision-making, or resistance?
How you showed up—what you handled well, what stretched you, what surprised you.
What assumptions did you make that did or didn’t hold true?
If others were involved, invite them to participate in a brief shared reflection. A short debrief can strengthen trust, close loops, or clear tension.
Ask yourself:
What insight do I want to carry forward?
What should I remember if a similar situation arises?
You don’t need a perfect outcome to grow. Reflection transforms every moment—even setbacks—into a form of progress.
As I shared in my last blog “What to Do Before Saying “This Isn’t Working”, sometimes it’s about asking different questions. And if things still aren’t moving, you may still not need to escalate, at least not yet.
Sometimes, progress begins with a quiet shift:
Retire : Let go
Redirect: Shift focus
Repackage: Reframe
Redirect: Learn
The 4 R’s offer a simple way to stay engaged and intentional when the path isn’t obvious. Use one. Use all four. Use what fits.
It might be just enough to get things moving again.
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