Don’t Let the Past Hold Back Your Future
Bob was a great program manager. Now he’s a director—and he’s struggling.
Why?
Because he never fully ended his previous role. In meetings, he still references program management. He still gets pulled back into old projects. Just last week, he keynoted a conference on a role he no longer holds.
Sound familiar?
This is more common than most leaders realize. When we step into something new, we often don’t pause to truly let go of what came before. But if you don’t intentionally end one chapter, it will pull energy from the one you’re trying to write now.
This month, I shared in my Monday Morning Standup the three key components of a clean, empowering ending—something every successful leader must learn to do well:
🌿 1. Pruning
Some things need to go—dead tasks, outdated relationships, and even good things that no longer serve your growth. Think of it like trimming a plant to make room for stronger, healthier growth.
Reflection:
What are you still holding onto from your previous role that’s no longer serving you?
⚖️ 2. Choosing
How do you know what to cut? Look for:
- Friction: Where do things feel heavy, slow, or misaligned?
- Triggers: What parts of your day feel like they belong to a different chapter?
🧭 3. Executing
Be deliberate. Be clear—with yourself and with others.
Draw a line:
- “I’ll support the handoff for two weeks, then I’m done.”
- “I won’t attend those meetings anymore.”
This isn’t easy—but staying stuck is harder.
🔎 Leadership is as much about what you say no to as what you say yes to.
So let me ask you:
- What role, mindset, or responsibility are you still dragging with you?
- Where do you feel friction or misalignment?
- What needs to end so that you can thrive where you are now?
🧭 Want help getting clear on what needs to end?
If you’re in a professional transition—or stuck between chapters—this is the kind of work I do every day with clients. Together, we clarify what needs to end, what you want to grow, and how to lead with purpose in your current role.
👉 Click here to set up a clarity conversation (no pressure, just insight).
Here’s to pruning with purpose and leading with clarity,
Gary Slyman
Executive Coach | Great Transitions Strategies
