Most people, teams, and organizations are operating in some form of stagnation. On the surface, it looks like stability or comfort. But beneath the surface, it’s the silent killer of growth.
The primary feeling that comes with stagnation? Frustration. You feel like you’re working hard, but not moving forward. You feel like things aren’t clicking the way they should. You feel friction.
If you are feeling any of these feelings, that is a signal that there is at least one facet of your life that is stagnant.
And, if you are feeling these feelings, you are not alone. Research suggests the vast majority of individuals, teams, and organizations — as many as 80% — experience some form of stagnation. (Are you ok with that?)
The Stagnation Continuum
To further feel into the idea of stagnation, I want you to think about what I call: The Stagnation Continuum. It looks like this:
Most of us are not fully at one end or the other. We live somewhere in between. And there may be some facets of our life where we are more toward the left (e.g., relationships, purpose) and other facets of our life where we are more toward the right (e.g., career, physical health).
The question isn’t “Am I stagnant?” The question is “Where am I right now on the stagnation–vitality continuum?”
The closer we drift toward stagnation, the more frustration builds. The closer we move toward vitality, the more growth and fulfillment we experience.
Stagnation at Different Levels
And, what we need to realize is that stagnation occurs at different levels:
- At the Individual level – You’re going through the motions. Motivation, creativity, and energy lag.
- In your team – Friction rises, people jockey for position, collaboration feels flat.
- Across your organization – Innovation stalls, growth is incremental, burnout and disengagement spread.
Why Skills Aren’t Enough
When the frustration of stagnation builds, most people look for surface-level fixes: a new job, a new process, another training. But these only scratch the surface.
That’s because stagnation isn’t a skills problem. It’s a Being Side problem. It lives in your mindsets:
- A fixed mindset keeps you clinging to what you know.
- A closed mindset blinds you to new perspectives.
- A prevention mindset keeps you from taking the risks that lead to progress.
- An inward mindset keeps you seeing people as obstacles or objects, blocking the collaboration that creates possibility.
Stated more bluntly: Stagnation is what happens when your inner operating system — your mindsets — stops upgrading.
The Only Way Out: Vertical Development
The antidote to stagnation isn’t learning another tactic or tool. It’s upgrading the system itself. That’s where vertical development comes in.
Vertical development expands your Being Side — your capacity to think, feel, and act at higher levels of sophistication. It’s about transforming your mindsets so you can break free of the ruts and ceilings that hold you back.
- For individuals, this reignites motivation, creativity, and purpose.
- For teams, this builds agility, trust, and energy.
- For organizations, this evolves culture, strategy, and competitiveness.
Without vertical development, stagnation spreads. With it, you gain the lift to rise higher.
Your Next Step
If you recognize signs of stagnation in yourself, your team, or your organization, the good news is this: stagnation isn’t permanent.
This is exactly where my work comes in. Through my vertical development programming, I help leaders, teams, and organizations break free from stagnation by elevating their Being Side — the inner operating system that shapes how they think, feel, and lead.
By focusing on mindsets, I provide the clarity, frameworks, and practical tools leaders need to:
- Reignite individual motivation and creativity.
- Build team trust, agility, and collaboration.
- Evolve organizational culture, strategy, and impact.
If you want to help your leaders and people get unstuck — not just incrementally better, but transformationally better — let’s connect.
Bottom line: Stagnation is common, and it feels frustrating. But it isn’t permanent. With vertical development and upgraded mindsets, you can move from stuck to soaring — breaking free of the rut, pushing beyond the ceiling, and stepping fully into your potential.
