Overcoming Roadblocks: Strategy as Your Guide to Change

Overcoming Roadblocks: Strategy as Your Guide to Change

Every meaningful journey begins with an idea—a goal you’re passionate about achieving.

But as we all know, the path from idea to accomplishment isn’t always smooth.

Roadblocks appear, and they’re not always external.

Sometimes, the biggest barriers are internal, sitting squarely within ourselves.

This realisation led me to develop a simple yet powerful strategy, one that you can use not just for personal growth, but also for making meaningful changes in your organisation.

A Personal Example of Strategy in Action

When I decided to start sharing my insights and experiences with a broader audience on LinkedIn, I was met with a significant internal roadblock: imposter syndrome.

You know those doubts that creep into your head that make you question yourself… the feeling that I wasn’t “qualified enough” or “ready enough” to put my ideas out into the world was, frankly, daunting.

But I had a vision – to connect authentically with others who are passionate about improving community-based health and disability services.

I knew that if I wanted to achieve this goal, I needed to work on myself first.

Here’s what I did:

In order to break through this barrier and start to build my LinkedIn presence, I implemented the following steps.

1. Identified the Goal
   What was the goal in this example?
   Well, I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences authentically while overcoming my fear of inadequacy.
2. Recognised the Roadblocks
   I knew imposter syndrome was my biggest hurdle.
   It was holding me back from taking action and putting myself out there.
3. Developed a Simple Strategy
   What steps did I take? Well, I created a strategy that wasn’t too scary that I knew would push me to be accountable to my goal, but not so much that I would hide from it!
   I created a small, symbolic tool to track my progress: a raffle ticket book.
   Each time I posted, I tore off a ticket.
   My prize once all the tickets were torn?
   A long-overdue bottle of Bolle waiting for a moment of success.
4. Celebrated the Milestones
   With every post, and every raffle ticket, I acknowledged my progress.
   The simple act of ripping off a ticket and adding it to the growing pile, became a tangible reminder of my growth and bravery.
   And here I am, several years later, with well over 70 posts on my LinkedIn page, no more need for raffle tickets and the Bolle bottle well and truly dry.

Strategy: A Universal Tool for Change

What makes this process so effective is its simplicity.

It’s not just a personal growth tool; it’s a strategy that organisations can apply to tackle complex challenges.

When facing roadblocks—whether they’re related to workforce issues, service delivery, or internal culture—the key is to step back, clarify your goals, and create a plan to address the barriers in your way.

Here’s how you can apply the same framework:

1. Define the Vision
   What do you want to achieve?
   Be specific and aspirational.
   For example, “We want to improve access to care for underserved communities.”
2. Identify the Roadblocks
   Consider ALL the things that are preventing you from achieving this vision.
   Are they external challenges, like staffing shortages, or internal ones, like resistance to change?
3. Create a Simple Strategy
   Focus on small, actionable steps.
   For instance, if staffing is a roadblock, start by analysing recruitment data to identify bottlenecks.
   If resistance to change is an issue, begin with open conversations to understand concerns.
4. Track Progress and Celebrate
   Develop an indicator of success and use it to measure progress to addressing these barriers.
   Celebrate milestones, no matter how small.
   Recognition fuels motivation and reinforces your team’s belief in the process.

And before you know it, you’ll also have a dry bottle of Bolle (well, maybe not at your organisation, but you can certainly implement this one when you smash your personal goals out of the park!).

The Bigger Picture: Building Momentum Through Strategy

The beauty of a strategic approach is its versatility.

It doesn’t matter if the roadblocks are internal, like self-doubt, or external, like operational inefficiencies.

A clear plan, rooted in your vision, gives you the tools to navigate challenges and move forward.

In my case, the strategy was as simple as a raffle ticket book.

In your organisation, it might be a dashboard that tracks service outcomes, a project plan to address staffing gaps, or a communication framework to build trust.

Whatever the tool, the underlying principles remain the same: clarity, action, and celebration.

Start Small, Think Big

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it starts somewhere. Whether you’re working to improve your organisation’s services or tackling a personal challenge, remember: