When the Momentum Slows: A Leadership Reflection

As an Executive and Leadership Coach, Leadership Practitioner, and Speaker, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing transformational moments—those rare, powerful times when individuals align, teams ignite, and real momentum begins to build. There’s a spark. A shared rhythm. A sense that something greater than ourselves is unfolding.

But if I’m honest, not every season feels that way.

Sometimes, the momentum slows.

The energy fades.

The connection frays.

And suddenly, the progress that once felt inevitable begins to stall.

Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, a project—or even navigating a personal mission—you’ve likely been there. You pour your heart into the work, but the outcomes don’t reflect the effort. Tension simmers beneath the surface. Trust thins. Conversations grow quieter… or happen in the wrong rooms.

I remember one of those seasons vividly.

Years ago, while leading a nonprofit, I began noticing something was off. My team was made up of strong, capable individuals. But when we gathered for meetings, there was a shift—participation dropped, ideas stalled, and a heaviness filled the space. The conversations we needed to have were happening in side halls, in parking lots—not around the table where they belonged.

It forced me to take a hard look—not at my team, but at myself.

I realized I had been operating from a place of authority, but I wasn’t leading.

I was going through the motions: delegating tasks, asking for input, nodding along.

But I wasn’t following through.

I wasn’t creating the space for real ownership, shared trust, or honest dialogue.

I was interpreting behaviors through my assumptions instead of exploring the reality behind them.

And that realization changed everything.

Here’s what I learned—and what I now teach:

• Leadership isn’t about holding a position. It’s about holding responsibility for the culture you're shaping.

• Momentum doesn't disappear without cause. It fades when voices are silenced, trust is eroded, or alignment is lost.

• Blame is easy. Ownership is leadership. Sometimes we must acknowledge that we’re part of the very dynamics we wish to change.

• Not every voice needs to be the loudest—but every voice deserves space. Leadership is about discerning who needs to be at the table, not just who’s most convenient.

  
  

When the momentum slows, it’s tempting to retreat.

To blame circumstances. To point to others.

To protect ourselves by disengaging.

But the most courageous leaders do the opposite.

They lean in.

They ask hard questions.

They listen—really listen—and respond with intention, not ego.

They plant their feet and recommit to the work of rebuilding momentum from the inside out.

So let me ask you this:

👉 When leadership feels heavy, will you shrink back or step forward?

👉 Will you default to authority—or rise into true leadership?

👉 Will you choose comfort—or transformation?

Because real leadership doesn’t avoid the storm.

It learns how to lead through it.

And when you do—when you own the moment, elevate the conversation, and invite others to the table—momentum has a way of finding its way back.