Feeling Stuck in a Sluggish Industry? Here’s How to Stand Out Anyway
(Posted on Thursday, April 3, 2025)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had multiple conversations with mid- to late-career executives who all echoed the same sentiment:
They feel stuck.
These are capable, experienced leaders—people who have built solid careers and contributed meaningfully to their organizations. They still enjoy aspects of their work, and they’re not necessarily unhappy. But they’re also not moving forward. Not progressing. Just… treading water.
Why? Because they’re working within a mature, consolidating industry—one where movement has slowed, uncertainty is high, and opportunity feels harder to come by.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not imagining it.
The Current Landscape: Why So Many Are Feeling the Stall
Several converging forces are creating this environment:
1. Industry Consolidation
As industries mature, companies merge, shrink, or realign to stay competitive. This often reduces the number of executive roles and creates flatter organizational structures.
2. Reduced M&A Activity
Since 2021, rising interest rates have made mergers and acquisitions less attractive. In 2023, global M&A activity dropped to its lowest level in a decade, down nearly 20% from the previous year, according to PwC.¹ For executives in industries where M&A was once a key growth driver, this has significantly reduced strategic job movement.
3. Uncertain Economic Conditions
Companies are cautious. Inflation, shifting regulations, labor shortages, and geopolitical uncertainty all contribute to a “wait and see” mentality. As a result, they’re limiting hiring, conserving capital, and scrutinizing every expense.
This creates a perfect storm where career growth feels frozen.
It’s a time of regrouping and efficiency—not expansion. And in these times, things slow down. Promotions, job changes, and career leaps become rare.
What It Feels Like
The result? Talented leaders begin to experience:
- A sense of inertia
- Fewer new projects or initiatives
- Limited headcount growth or backfilling
- A “management by spreadsheet” approach to decision-making
- A creeping feeling of redundancy or underutilization
If this is you, I want to acknowledge something upfront: it’s frustrating.
But I also want to offer a perspective shift.
This isn’t the end of your growth—it’s just a different season of it.
“Embrace the Suck”: A Mindset for Challenging Times
There’s a phrase used in the military that I’ve always appreciated:
“Embrace the suck.”
It’s not about pretending that difficulty isn’t happening. It’s about accepting the reality of hard times—and choosing to operate at a high level anyway.
During slow seasons, leadership looks different. The flashier wins may not be available. But quiet leadership—the kind that solves problems, builds trust, and moves the ball down the field even when no one’s watching—matters more than ever.
In these moments, people who lean in—rather than check out—stand out.
What Companies Are Looking For Right Now
Even when the org chart isn’t moving and promotions are scarce, companies are always evaluating talent.
Here’s what they’re paying attention to during a lull:
1. New Revenue Ideas (Especially Low-Risk Ones)
When growth slows, executives crave ideas that don’t require huge capital but can boost revenue using existing infrastructure.
If you’re in sales, marketing, or product development and have thoughts on how to streamline pricing, cross-sell more effectively, or reposition existing offerings—this is the time to speak up.
Your ideas don’t need to be revolutionary. They just need to be doable, measurable, and cost-effective.
💡 Tip: Frame ideas in terms of ROI and implementation ease. Executives are listening.
2. Operational Efficiency and Initiative
Is there a gap from a recent departure? A responsibility that’s fallen through the cracks?
While overextending yourself is never wise, selectively stepping in to solve problems—especially if they align with your current skill set—can create major visibility.
This isn’t about doing more for the sake of it. It’s about owning your lane and improving it. Taking the initiative to:
- Streamline workflows
- Create process documentation
- Train others to reduce bottlenecks
These actions build equity. Leaders remember the people who step up when resources are thin.
3. Optimization of Overlooked Resources
In a conservative climate, underused assets are opportunities.
That might mean:
- Finding ways to repurpose existing technology
- Identifying physical assets that can be sold or reused
- Reviewing vendor contracts for inefficiencies
Even reallocating internal team bandwidth more effectively can be a win.
If you can help the company do more with less, you become indispensable.
A Season of Strategic Patience
During boom times, advancement can be quick and linear.
During quiet seasons, it’s often lateral, subtle, and relationship-based.
The real leadership test is how you show up when things aren’t moving.
Are you still curious? Still innovative? Still invested?
Executives and boards are watching. They’re assessing who they want in the room when things pick back up.
Those who disengage will be remembered.
Those who contribute quietly and consistently will be remembered too—and in a much better light.
What to Do If You’re Feeling Stuck
If you’re experiencing this kind of career stall, here’s my advice:
✅ Acknowledge the reality.
Don’t gaslight yourself into thinking it’s all in your head. Industry slowdowns are real. But they’re also temporary.
✅ Focus on what you can control.
Look for the revenue ideas, the optimization, the workflows, and the people you can support. You don’t need a promotion to create value.
✅ Stay connected and visible.
Keep relationships warm—inside and outside your organization. Let people see your effort, not just your output.
✅ Don’t make reactive decisions.
Now is not the time to jump ship in frustration. Make sure your next move is thoughtful, not emotional.
✅ Track your contributions.
When the time comes for growth again, you’ll want a record of how you added value during the hard times.
Final Thought: Everyone’s Feeling It—Even the CEO
One of the most freeing things I remind executives is this:
You’re not the only one who feels stuck.
Your boss feels it.
Your peers feel it.
The CEO likely feels it, too.
When the external environment is uncertain, everyone inside the organization is navigating that uncertainty in real time. That’s why proactive thinking and steady leadership shine so brightly during these seasons.
If you’re showing up, contributing meaningfully, and staying engaged—you’re doing better than you think. And when the tide turns—and it will—you’ll be at the front of the line for what comes next.