THE ELEPHANT IN THE BOARDROOM

6 ways to move forward if you're feeling stuck

This isn't your first rodeo. You've guided organizations through uncertainty before. This time, however, economic instability and the socio-political climate have left many HR leaders feeling stuck and executives hoping to avoid the spotlight. 

How do you balance employee needs, business goals, and brand reputation, and assure leadership that taking care of employees is the right thing? 

First, know that you're not alone. HR teams in every industry are grappling with how to keep people engaged, build equitable workplaces that support innovation, and maintain trust. 

If you're at an impasse, there are a few things you can try.

1. Acknowledge the elephant. The first step is naming what's happening. By openly acknowledging the challenge and sense of being frozen without judgment, you create psychological space to move forward.
2. Conduct a quick pulse check. Create a short, anonymous survey or host informal check-ins to understand how employees are feeling. This provides clarity on where to begin, gives you a sense of how people might respond, and builds credibility.
3. Frame the risk of inaction. Discuss the risks executives may not have considered, such as disengagement, talent loss, or reputational damage. Use data from employee surveys, exit interviews, and internal reports to help them understand the need to respond. 
4. Identify a low-risk, high-impact action. If leadership is hesitant, pick one thing that feels manageable but meaningful to test. Try implementing flexible return-to-office policies, launch a listening session, or update language in job postings and internal communications to convey empathy and respect. 
5. Engage a small advisory group. Form a cross-functional or employee-led working group to co-create ideas and share ownership of next steps. Consider bringing in an external facilitator for a fresh, neutral voice. 
6. Offer solutions with impact. It's easy to outline problems—and right now no one needs more of those. Avoid jargon or polarizing terms. Instead, try to offer solutions, or a choice of solutions, couched in strategic language that focuses on business impact.  

This may also be the right time to invest in resilience training to help leaders and teams build the skills needed to navigate uncertainty and thrive under pressure.

You can also reach out to us any time for tailored solutions to help you navigate this complex landscape with confidence, such as:

• Custom strategic workshops to address your organization's specific pain points.
• Training programs to strengthen equity, belonging, and trust across teams.
• Consulting services to devise actionable strategies that support long-term success.

We understand the weight of these challenges. It's time to move forward—step by step. Let's explore how we can help your team regain clarity, direction, and impact.

Click here to download more tips from our partner, The Folke Institute.

Regards,

Susan M. Brocaglia

President, Creative Workforce Solutions

Practical HR for Tomorrow's Workforce

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