Why Some Leaders Rise While Others Stay Stagnant

A manager once told me, “I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I know what works.”

That sentence tells me everything.

Not about their experience. Not about their skills. But about their mindset—and why it might be holding them back.

Because in today’s world, what worked before won’t guarantee success tomorrow.

Some leaders get this. Some don’t.

The difference?

One has a fixed mindset. The other has an adaptive mindset.

The Fixed Mindset Trap

A fixed mindset sounds like this:

• “We’ve always done it this way.”
• “I already know what works.”
• “If I try something new and fail, I’ll look weak.”

This thinking creates blind spots. It makes people defend old ways—even when those ways no longer work. And slowly, without realizing it, they fall behind.

The Adaptive Mindset Shift

Now, here’s how an adaptive leader thinks:

• “What if we tried a different approach?”
• “What’s changing that we’re not seeing yet?”
• “If we fail, what will we learn?”

Instead of resisting change, they explore it. Instead of fearing the unknown, they prepare for it.

This is what separates leaders who grow from those who get stuck.

How I Teach Leaders to Think Adaptively

In my last workshop, I introduced a simple but powerful tool:

The "What If" Scenario Exercise.

? Take a current challenge your team is facing. ? Ask: “What if things changed overnight?”

• What if your biggest competitor made a bold move?
• What if your customers wanted something different?
• What if the way you do business was no longer an option? ? Map out how you’d respond. ? Identify what needs to change before reality forces you to change.

This does two things:

It exposes blind spots. You see risks and opportunities you hadn’t considered. It trains adaptability. Your team stops reacting to change and starts preparing for it.

The best leaders don’t just respond to change. They anticipate it.

Your Move

What’s one thing in your work that might not be future-proof?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

And if you want more insights on thinking bigger, moving faster, and leading smarter, subscribe to Unwritten Playbook.