What story are you telling yourself?

Stories embed and old stories persist even when your environment changes.

Something simple like driving abroad, have you ever ended up in the passenger seat when you’re meant to be the driver or felt the pull to be on the left side of the road?

Or when a bathroom has the hot tap on the right, have you scalded yourself when trying to brush your teeth?

Well your work life is no different. If your brain has learned that being hands-on, solving problems quickly and making sure things get done brings success, it will drive you to keep doing those things even when your role develops into something more strategic.

I see this pattern with people I work with. Brilliant people who've been promoted based on operational excellence, now expected to think strategically. But nobody actually teaches them how to make that shift.

Laurence J. Peter gave his name to the idea, the 'Peter Principle, whereby employees are promoted based on success in previous roles until they reach a plateau where they're no longer competent, and remain stuck there.

Marshall Goldsmith framed it as "What Got You Here Won't Get You There."

So what are your options if you've reached this place; capable, hardworking, delivering results, but also exhausted and unclear about how to lead differently?

The solution I see is not in working harder or being smarter. It’s stopping the mental loop of trying to figure it out alone and allowing yourself to be challenged on what is really holding you back.

The plateau after promotion isn't a failure. It's a wonderful invitation to reflect and notice where the steering wheel is now.

What might be possible if you allowed yourself to be challenged by someone outside your own thinking?

What story are you telling yourself?