Many leaders and individuals have a big vision for their future—their families, their businesses, and the companies they lead. But with so much external noise, from personal struggles to political chaos, it’s easy for that vision to become blurred.

Many factors can shift our focus, and today, I want to help you identify what’s obstructing your progress and reconnect with your goals. 

Whether you’re leading a company, driving a team, or navigating your personal goals, I’ll share three strategies for overcoming both internal and external barriers.

As a woman and leader “in ascension,” as I describe in my Masterclass, internal and external challenges can distract us from our dreams and hinder our progress. When we become clear about these obstacles, we can effectively address them.

Let’s start by examining where you are right now, what your vision is, and what’s holding you back.

Reconnect with Your Why

When your vision feels distant, the first step to refueling is to remind yourself Why it matters. 

Reflect: what ignited this vision within you in the first place? What is your emotional attachment to it? 

I recently hosted a Masterclass with talented women and leaders who shared inspiring visions for their futures—building careers they’re proud of, achieving financial security for their families, becoming empowering leaders, and working with great people. These are the types of visions that keep us going, even when the going gets tough.

For me, my “Why” has always been about exploring my potential, supporting my son, and helping my clients identify and achieve their own potential. It’s what fuels me through the challenges of running my business.

I view your Why as a gas tank for your vision. So when things get hard, and I start wondering if I should quit, I return to my Why—and suddenly, the tank is full again, and I feel determined to keep going.

Now, what’s your Why? Is it helping female leaders in your company thrive? Building a diverse, inclusive leadership pipeline that mirrors your market? Whatever it is, reconnect with that purpose—it’s the fuel that will keep you moving forward.

Align Your Vision and Belief Systems

The next strategy involves examining our belief systems around our vision. Sometimes, our beliefs create inner conflicts. 

For example, while I aim to scale ExecutiveBound to serve more women and organizations, I am sometimes concerned about losing my lifestyle, time, and personal connections. That inner conflict creates a block. But if I hold on to the limiting belief that scaling is bad, I’ll never take the actions needed in order to grow.

What about you? Are there beliefs you hold that are creating an inner conflict with your vision? 

Maybe you’re telling yourself that leadership is not for you, or that it’s too late for you to achieve your career goals. These stories can prevent you from taking the necessary steps to make your vision a reality.

Hesitation or self-doubt often signals some inner conflicts you may have. That’s why identifying and addressing these disempowering beliefs will allow you to align your thoughts and actions, paving the way for progress towards your big goals.

Taking Actions that Bring Measurable Progress

The third strategy is ensuring that your daily actions reflect your vision. 

I keep a quote by my mentor, Fabienne, on my desk: “How is what I am doing right now moving me measurably closer to my goal?” I repeatedly refer to this question as a reminder to examine my actions and how they’re bringing me closer to my vision.

As leaders, we can get so busy organizing one-off trainings, attending meetings, and putting out fires that we lose sight of the bigger picture. However, busyness doesn’t always mean progress. 

Let’s take a step back and ask yourself: are your activities truly making an impact? Are they moving you closer to your vision?

If your organization is investing in female development programs, consider the impact. How meaningful and transformative are these activities? Perhaps it’s time to explore more consistent, outcomes-aligned initiatives.

As individuals, it’s crucial to safeguard our time by being intentional about our schedules. Evaluating and prioritizing activities that progress you is a sign of self-awareness, and ensures your vision is not neglected by daily distractions.

Refocus, Align, and Take Action

Here are the three strategies to refocus and make meaningful progress on your vision:

1. Reconnect with your Why. Your Why provides the fuel that drives you forward, even when the journey gets tough. Revisit the purpose behind your vision.
2. Examine your belief system. Are your beliefs aligned with your vision, or are they creating inner conflict? Challenge the stories that may be holding you back.
3. Align your actions with your vision. Busy doesn’t necessarily translate to productive. Make sure your time is spent on activities that move you significantly closer to your goals.

These strategies help create a roadmap to achieving our big visions, which are crucial for our legacy, impact, and fulfillment in our careers and lives. Time is precious—let’s not let our visions fade due to distractions and unfocused efforts.

If you find it challenging to implement these practices, know that you are not alone. I explore these concepts further in our leadership development programs, including the Women’s Fearless Leadership Masterclass. 

Our next complimentary Masterclass is tailored to show you how to claim your vision and unique value, build critical relationships with allies, develop a robust action plan for career advancement, and strengthen the bridge to get there faster and with support. I invite you to join me in our next Masterclass and embark on this transformative journey. As a returning valued member of our Masterclass, look out for our email and simply click the link “I’m in!” to join us for the next series of sessions.

And if you, as an organization, are looking to clarify your vision, enhance the valuable resources you’re already offering women, or seek leadership development explicitly tailored to tackle the unique challenges holding talented women back from growing in your organization, let’s connect. 

Let’s have a breakthrough call and explore what’s currently getting in the way of reaching your goals. Together, we can unlock the strategies that will move you and your organization forward.

Live with purpose, live with joy!

Coach Ginny