Monday reflection: Leading through inertia

 

Inertia causes individuals, teams, departments, and organisations to stand still — unable to move forward or even see a way ahead. Effective leaders must recognise inertia as a limiting factor and find ways to guide people toward realising their potential. 

Doing nothing can sometimes feel like the safest option when faced with uncertainty. But over time, inertia creates comfort in habits and routines, leading to rigidity rather than adaptability. It fosters resistance to change and keeps people anchored to past experiences. As leaders, recognising inertia as a problem and actively seeking solutions is the crucial first step. We can start by asking ourselves: 

• What is making us, as a team, less effective? 
• Is inertia a problem? 
• Is fear of failure or fear of success driving inertia? 
• Do we fear changing the status quo or losing control? 
• What unlocking strategies can we introduce? 
• How do we determine if they are successful? 

We implement actions more effectively when we first acknowledge that change is not only necessary but essential — for the business and for the people within it. Rosabeth Moss Kanter said, “Leaders must wake people out of inertia. They must get people excited about something they've never seen before, something that does not yet exist.” 

So, how can we be that catalyst — inspiring curiosity, commitment, and courage to change?