When Nothing Goes to Plan
Hi there —
I had big plans for this week. Fresh off vacation, I was ready to hit the ground running, with my goals mapped out, my energy high, and ready to be in momentum building mode.
But instead of hitting my stride, I got hit with a summer cold.
(Which, for the record, somehow always feels worse than a winter one. Maybe it’s the whiplash of going from beachside joy to blanket cocoon.)
What was meant to be a week of action has turned into one of cough drops, canceled plans, and a lot more rest than I bargained for.
And as frustrating as it feels, I am reminded that this is part of leadership, too. And that no matter how organized or optimistic we are, things don’t always go to plan.
Sometimes you don’t get the budget you fought for.
The candidate you were excited about takes another offer.
Someone on your team puts in their notice.
That “brilliant” strategy turns out to be the wrong call.
Or, in my case, you’re sidelined just as you were gearing up for a big push.
So when the unexpected happens, what do you do?
There are really three choices:
You can wallow. (Been there.)
You can blame everyone and everything around you. (Tempting.)
Or, you can adapt.
leaning into Adaptability
Adaptability is one of the six core behaviors I teach in both of my leadership programs. It’s not just about staying calm, it’s about staying effective when things go sideways.
Here’s how I define it ⤵️
Adaptability = the ability to adjust, stay flexible & lead through change, uncertainty & disruption.
It looks like this:
Staying clear-headed when plans shift
Adjusting priorities based on new information
Helping others stay grounded in uncertainty
Treating change as a challenge NOT a threat
But how do you actually practice adaptability when you're in the middle of the chaos?
3 Questions to ask yourself
Here are three questions I use (and had to ask myself this week):
1. What’s still in my control? Your energy might be low, the plan might be out the window, but there’s always something you can influence. Start there.
2. What needs to shift? Don’t cling to the original plan just because you made it. Adaptable leaders reassess the goalposts when the field changes.
3. How do I move forward with intention, not urgency? Reacting and responding aren’t the same thing. Take the beat you need. Then move.
For me, this week meant rescheduling in-person meetings, shortening my to-do list to only the essentials, and reminding myself that progress doesn’t always look like forward motion.
And if you need a little inspiration to stay grounded when the unexpected hits, look no further than this week’s Leadership Lesson spotlight.
leadership lessons from mallory weggemann
I had the privilege of interviewing Mallory during my corporate days, and she’s truly the epitome of adaptability.
After being paralyzed at age 18, she became a 4-time Paralympian for Team USA, a 7-time Paralympic medalist (4 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), and a powerful advocate for the disability community.
In the summer of 2024, Mallory became the first Paralympian to serve as a host for NBCUniversal’s Olympics coverage on CNBC and E! during the Paris Games, all while continuing to train for her fourth Paralympic appearance.
Her memoir, Limitless, published in 2021, shares the lessons of resilience, reframing tragedy, redefining limitations, and honoring the journey (having read her book multiple times, I highly recommend it).
Mallory’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, not just because of what she’s achieved, but because of what she chose. She could’ve stayed stuck in grief or blame. Instead, she took the hardest parts of her journey and turned them into purpose, power, and action.