Seven Steps to Stagnation: Overcome Change Challenges

Seven Steps to Stagnation: Overcome Change Challenges | Aaron Hur Group

Change is hard. But stagnation is harder.

Over the last 13+ years—walking alongside 600+ organizations—we’ve seen a consistent pattern:

It’s not strategy that slows organizations down.It’s people’s relationship with change.

Even strong teams…Even high-performing leaders…Even healthy organizations…

At some point, they default to what used to work.

Years ago, I came across the “Seven Steps to Stagnation” (originally compiled by Erwin M. Soukup), and I’ve used this framework in nearly every transition, succession, or organizational change we’ve led.

Here’s what stagnation sounds like:

• “We’ve never done it that way before.”

• “We’re not ready for that.”

• “We’re doing all right without it.”

• “We tried that once before.”

• “It costs too much.”

• “That’s not our responsibility.”

• “It just won’t work.”

These statements don’t come from bad intentions.They come from comfort, fear, and a desire to protect what’s already been built.

But here’s the tension:

👉 What made you successful yesterday

👉 Will not sustain you tomorrow

Healthy leaders. Healthy teams. Healthy organizations.They don’t ignore these thoughts—they recognize and challenge them.

They choose the opposite:

• Try new things

• Move before you feel fully ready

• Redefine what “success” looks like now

• Learn from what didn’t work (instead of abandoning it)

• Invest where it matters

• Take ownership beyond your role

• Believe new approaches can work

Lately, three words have been sitting with me—and shaping how we coach leaders through change:

INNOVATE. CREATE. RISK.

Not recklessly.But intentionally… strategically… courageously.

Because whether we like it or not—we are always changing.

The question is:

➡️ Are you leading that change…

➡️ Or resisting it?

If you're navigating:

• Succession planning

• A key leadership transition

• Team restructuring

• Organizational growth that’s stretching your current systems

We’d be honored to come alongside you.

At Aaron Hur Group, our mission is simple:Help leaders and organizations accomplish their mission.

📩 Send me a message

📧 Email us

🌐 Visit aaronhurgroup.com to schedule a discovery conversation

Which of the seven do you identify with the most?

Cheering you on!