It can be frustrating to see people in your life — whether they’re in your organization or not — making the same bad decisions over and over again.
So how can you help them break out of those patterns?
Many times as a leader, you will have a team member who’s stuck in a loop of mistakes. It may be easy to judge them, but what they really need is some guidance to get them back on track — and that starts with understanding why they’re stuck in that loop in the first place.
Most folks are just coasting through life on autopilot, like characters in a video game. They’re not even aware of the same old mistakes they keep making. It’s like they’re living the same day over and over again without realizing the consequences of their actions.
Another factor is the comfort of familiarity. Even if they’re miserable, some people prefer the devil they know over the uncertainty of change. It’s like they’d rather stick with what they’ve got than take a chance on something new.
Is it possible to help them break free from this cycle?
While we can offer some guidance along the way, ultimately, they’ve got to figure it out for themselves.
But as their leader, one thing you can do is help them take a step back and analyze their decisions. Sit down with them and go through the thought process behind a mistake. Help them see where they went off course and help them identify what they could do differently next time.
By shifting the focus from self-blame to self-awareness, you can help your team member start to see the patterns in their behavior and make better choices moving forward. It’s all about empowering them to learn from their mistakes and grow as individuals.
So the next time you encounter someone stuck in a loop of bad decisions, don’t just write them off. Take the time to understand where they’re coming from and help them break free from that cycle.
Who knows? You might just change their life for the better.
