Moving Forward Even When the Next Steps are Unclear by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

Every journey has hills and valleys. Often, there are times when it’s difficult to even see the trail ahead. It is during these times when it can be hard to determine the next step. When you are working toward a goal, you’re sure to have times when you are uncertain what your next step in the process should be. These are the times when resilience is most important.

If every step along the path to success was clearly marked, many more people would be successful. Every great leader has had to make a move forward, knowing that move was somewhat of a leap of faith. When it’s time for you to take a leap of faith, here are some things to consider.

1. You’ve been successful in the past. Move forward knowing that you have good intuition and good decision making skills. Your past victories can help you have confidence in your ability to make the right decisions moving forward.

2. You’ve made mistakes in the past and these haven’t completely derailed your success. Your next move might not be the right one. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t recover and be ultimately successful. Every mistake teaches us a valuable less that we can use to move forward to a better outcome the next time. If you don’t make a move, it is impossible to get it right.

3. You have resources. Your past experiences, your mentors and your connections are all very valuable when you’re trying to work out what to do next. Make use of all your resources to help ensure you’re making the best decisions. Talk it out with those you respect and think about your options before you make decisions.

Moving forward without clear direction is never easy. However, it is imperative that you not allow yourself to stagnate in your journey to success. Every step forward is progress, even if it takes you on a side path for a little while. Ultimately, all the information you gain will lead you to the outcome you’ve been working for.