What do you do when you put your shiny, new plans and strategies into place… and they hit a bump in the road?

Many of us spend so much time planning and dreaming for a new month, quarter, or year in our business that we don’t actually know what to do when those plans don’t go according to, well, plan.

That’s why being prepared to overcome roadblocks needs to be part of your original plan.

At Elevate, we’re always looking 3 steps ahead so we can anticipate potential issues and plan to avoid them in the first place or know exactly what steps to take if they do pop up.

And today, we’re sharing pro tips for identifying roadblocks and understanding how to overcome them or keep them from happening again!

What to do when obstacles get in the way of your plans

Start with a SWOT Analysis.

A SWOT–strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats– analysis is a helpful, structured framework highlighting what is working and where you have growth opportunities and are at risk.

If you want to be able to plan for potential obstacles, you have to know what they are. That information only comes through completing a comprehensive SWOT Analysis.

This should be your go-to first step to get a high-level overview of where your business is and what you need to be on alert for.

Look at the numbers.

What story is your data telling?

• Where do your KPIs show you're doing well or performing below expectations?
• It's tempting to write off bad numbers as a fluke or explain them away, but you're missing an opportunity to understand the why behind those numbers.
• When you rely on data instead of emotions or “gut feelings” to plan, adjust, and pivot–– you will be more accurate.

Tracking KPIs and taking time to understand what they are telling you is the key to overcoming the roadblocks standing between you and your team and the success you want to see.

Engage your team.

Don’t get stuck in your own tunnel vision!

Ask your team to share their experience and feedback so you can see how everyone else perceives the obstacles in your way. You may find the people on the ground doing the work are more aware of roadblocks and challenges than you are as a leader because they’re engaged daily with clients, customers, and processes impacted by the obstacles.

Bring in an outside professional.

Fresh, neutral eyes can be a lifesaver.

When it comes to evaluating your operational efficiency and identifying challenges, some things are nearly impossible to see from the inside. Working with a professional like our founder, Ashley, can illuminate issues and obstacles you can't see yourself.

Once you’ve overcome the obstacles… What’s next?

Congratulations! You completed a SWOT analysis, looked at your numbers, engaged your team, and brought in an outside professional to help you see what’s truly going on in your business, solve your unique, specific challenges, and overcome the obstacles in your way of success!

Now what?

The truth is that you’ll need to repeat this process again and again. As your business continues to grow and evolve, so will your obstacles and issues. But that’s okay––you know what to do!

And in between overcoming obstacles, you can always improve your business or department’s success by focusing on building the most effective team possible.

At Elevate, we're passionate about helping our clients set their teams up for success and are serious about empowering leaders to get the best results from each and every team member.

These are a few of the ways we do that that you can do, too:

• Outline clear goals + expectations.
  • Set your team up for success with defined goals and specific expectations for their role.
• Commit to open communication.
  • People want to feel heard, and open communication practices are the best way to keep everyone on the same page working toward the same clear goals.
• Celebrate wins, big and small.
  • Never assume your team knows you appreciate them. Tell them! Celebrating individual wins and team achievements keeps everyone feeling motivated and appreciated.
• Schedule regular check-ins and a feedback framework.
  • A successful team includes each member knowing where they can improve and being willing to implement constructive criticism. Make feedback a consistent process that your team members understand and expect for best results.

Need help identifying, overcoming, and avoiding business obstacles?

We have a number of services designed to help you! Anticipating potential roadblocks and creating clear plans for overcoming obstacles is what we do best.

Whether you need some 1:1 time to consult CEO-to-CEO or a dedicated team of professionals to step in and take over a major issue with our Get It Done Service, we have the solution you’ve been searching for.

Feel free to schedule a call if you need help figuring out which service is best, or go ahead and get on our calendar for 2025!