5 Questions to Help You Get Unstuck at Work

14 Mar 5 Questions to Help You Get Unstuck at Work

We all get stuck. It doesn’t matter how smart, experienced, or successful we are—there comes a time when the ideas stop flowing, the path forward isn’t clear, or motivation just dries up. And when that happens, frustration sets in.

Adam Alter, in The Anatomy of a Breakthrough, makes an important point: getting stuck is inevitable. But instead of seeing it as a sign of failure, we should expect it—and be ready with the right tools to move forward. The best leaders aren’t the ones who never get stuck. They’re the ones who know how to get unstuck, fast.

So the next time you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, ask yourself these five questions. They’ve helped me and many leaders I’ve worked with breakthrough when things felt impossible.

1. What’s the real problem I’m trying to solve?

When we feel stuck, it’s often because we’re focused on the wrong thing. Maybe it’s not the project that’s stalled, but misalignment among your team. Maybe it’s not that you don’t have enough time, but that your priorities aren’t clear. When we misdiagnose the problem, we waste energy on solutions that don’t work.

Try this: Write down the challenge in one sentence. Then ask yourself, “Is this really the problem, or is there something deeper going on?” Keep asking “Why?” until you hit the root cause.

2. What would this look like if it were easy?

Sometimes we overcomplicate things. We assume that solving a problem has to be hard, that a big decision requires a big process, or that moving forward demands a perfect plan. But what if it didn’t? What if the solution was simpler than you thought?

Try this: Imagine you handed this problem to someone with fresh eyes—maybe a colleague, a mentor, or even a friend. What’s the first thing they’d do? Often, the simplest answer is the right one.

3. Who else has solved this before?

You are not the first person to face this kind of challenge. Somewhere, someone has already figured it out. Learning from them can save you months (or years) of struggle.

Try this: Instead of trying to power through alone, ask around. Reach out to a mentor, listen to a podcast from someone who’s been in your shoes, or even do a quick search for case studies. The right insight could be all you need to get unstuck.

4. What’s the smallest step I can take right now?

When you’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to wait for the perfect plan or the right moment. But progress doesn’t come from giant leaps—it comes from small, consistent steps. The key is to do something, even if it’s tiny.

Try this: Identify one thing you can do in the next 10 minutes that moves you forward. Then do it. Action creates momentum.

5. What’s at stake if I don’t move forward?

If you stay stuck, what happens? What opportunities will you miss? What will your team, your business, or your customers lose out on? Sometimes, the best way to shake off inertia is to remind yourself of what’s at risk.

Try this: Fast forward a year. If you’re still stuck in the same place, how will you feel? Will you regret not taking action sooner? Let that drive you forward.

The truth is, we all hit roadblocks. 

But being stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing—it just means you need to shift your perspective. 

These five questions are like a mental reset button. 

They help you stop spinning your wheels and start moving forward again.

So if you’re feeling stuck today, take a deep breath and ask yourself: 

What’s the next step? 

The answer might be closer than you think.

Onward!