Pause, Then Act

Ever been so overwhelmed you thought, “Something’s got to give”?

We’ve all been there. Cash is tight, your star employee hands in their notice, or customers complain. The pressure builds, and you desperately want to make a bold move. Something decisive that will fix everything.

But here’s the catch: rushing to permanent solutions for temporary problems often creates… permanent problems.

Think about it:

• A business cuts its marketing budget during a sales slump and wonders why no one remembers it when the market recovers.
• When a team’s productivity drops, management reshuffles everything, losing valuable knowledge, momentum, and culture.
• A stressed business owner walks away from a partnership that just needed an honest conversation.

In each case, the problem would have passed. But the reaction? That sticks around much longer. In my years as a consultant, I’ve seen this play out countless times. That’s why I always encourage clients to breathe before making sweeping changes.

Single-Loop vs. Double-Loop Thinking

Most of us default to what’s called “Single-Loop Thinking”: see the problem, apply the solution. Sales are down? Cut costs. Is the team struggling? Restructure.

But “Double-Loop Thinking” digs deeper, asking questions like:

• Why do we assume this is the correct response?
• What beliefs are driving this decision?
• Are our usual approaches still working for today’s challenges?

Instead of just reacting to symptoms, you’re examining root causes.

When a team underperforms, rather than immediately shuffling org charts, you might explore the following: Is our vision clear? Do people understand their roles? Does everyone feel safe speaking up?

This deeper thinking doesn’t take more time. It just requires a different kind of curiosity. It leads to smarter, more sustainable decisions.

Before making any significant change, ask yourself: “Is this a permanent problem? Or am I just in the middle of the storm right now?”

If you’re facing a tough decision and need help seeing the forest through the trees, I offer free 30-minute discovery sessions to help clarify your options.

Book a slot here and let’s talk.

Have a brilliant week!

Dave Rogers – The Business Explorer