In leadership—and in life—we love the feeling of momentum. Moving forward feels productive. Staying the course feels safe. But sometimes, the bravest and most strategic thing you can do is stop, turn, and go in a different direction.
That’s the pivot.
A pivot can be loud and obvious: a major shift in business strategy after market conditions change, a leadership restructure when old systems no longer serve, or a career move you never saw coming. But it can also be quiet: a subtle realization that your work doesn’t energize you anymore, that the mission and your daily reality don’t match, or that the metrics you’re chasing aren’t leading you to where you actually want to be.
Recognizing the moment
The first challenge is seeing the need for a pivot in the first place. Some signs are external—sales trends, member needs, or stakeholder feedback. Others are internal—burnout, frustration, or the sense that you’re solving the wrong problems.
Leaders often push through these signals, believing perseverance is the mark of strength. And yes, persistence matters. But ignoring misalignment doesn’t make it go away—it only delays the inevitable.
If you’ve been telling yourself “just one more quarter” for a year, or hoping that if you push harder things will magically fall into place, it may be time to pause and ask: What would happen if we tried something different?
The fear factor
Even when we know a pivot is the right move, change is uncomfortable. As leaders, we feel the weight of stability for our teams, our organizations, and our reputations. What will people think? What if it fails?
This is where the paradox of leadership shows up. We spend our careers building credibility and trust, which makes us reluctant to do anything that might rock the boat. But here’s the truth: sometimes the bigger risk is staying the same. In a fast-moving world, sticking to a path that no longer serves you or your organization can mean slowly losing relevance, energy, and impact.
It’s worth asking yourself: Am I avoiding a pivot because I believe the current path is truly the best . . . or because I’m afraid of what change might require of me?
Leading others through change
The best pivots are built on transparency, empathy, and vision. Your team can handle change if they understand why it’s happening and where you’re headed. They’ll also want to know you see them, hear them, and value their role in shaping the next chapter.
Communicating clearly doesn’t mean having all the answers on day one. It means being honest about what you do know, what’s still uncertain, and how you’ll work together to figure it out.
A pivot doesn’t mean discarding the past. It means honoring the work that got you here while being willing to adapt to what’s next. Celebrate the legacy. Acknowledge the wins. Then set your sights forward.
The personal side of the pivot
Most of us have a personal pivot story—one that looked risky in the moment but, in hindsight, shaped us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. For me, some of the biggest shifts in my own path started as gut feelings. There wasn’t a crisis pushing me out of my lane—just an internal pull toward something different.
Looking back, those pivots created opportunities I couldn’t have planned for. They expanded my perspective, introduced me to people who changed my thinking, and made my work more meaningful.
The same is true for leaders I’ve known. Some left a stable role to start something new. Others reimagined the way their organization served members. Almost all of them will tell you: the discomfort was real, but so was the growth.
Moving forward
If you’re feeling the pull toward change, pay attention. That quiet nudge might be the sign you need. The pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic—it just has to be intentional.
Start with questions, not answers. What’s no longer working? What would a better path look like? What would it take to make that shift? You don’t have to pivot overnight—but you do have to be willing to explore the possibility.
We recently explored this topic in more depth on Episode 216 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with Jill Nowacki and me. If you’re navigating a shift in strategy, leadership, or your career, I think you’ll find it a worthwhile listen.
