What’s Holding You Back? Embracing Transition and Breaking Through Roadblocks

As summer fades and routines return, we find ourselves in a season of transition. Kids go back to school. Vacations wind down. Work picks up speed. For many of us, this shift from the unstructured warmth of summer to the rhythm of fall brings both energy and discomfort.

Change has a way of stirring things up, making us question what’s working and what’s not. Personally. Professionally. Systemically.

Following our recent conversation on Breaking Silos: Encouraging Cross-Functional Teams, we’re reminded that progress often starts with asking hard questions, first about our systems, and then about ourselves.

So ask yourself:
What’s holding me back right now?

Identifying Personal and Professional Roadblocks

When we think about “silos,” we often point to teams not talking to each other or departments protecting their turf. But silos aren’t just structural. They’re internal, too.

Sometimes the biggest barriers aren’t between teams, they’re between our own ears.

Maybe it’s:

  • Fear of failure

  • Doubting your expertise

  • Feeling like your voice doesn’t matter

  • Perfectionism disguised as preparation

  • Holding onto an outdated story about who you are or what you’re capable of

Or perhaps the roadblock is external:

  • A manager who won’t listen

  • A company culture that punishes vulnerability

  • A role that’s grown stale

  • A system that rewards silos, not collaboration

Whatever it is, name it. Because when we don’t name it, we carry it.

Resetting Your Frame of Mind

In seasons of change, clarity is a gift. Transitions offer a natural opportunity to reset, to reflect, reframe, and realign.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I need to let go of to move forward?

  • Where am I playing small?

  • What story am I telling myself that might not be true anymore?

  • Who do I need to collaborate with to break through?

Change can feel threatening when we’re clinging to stability. But reframing change as an invitation to realign with our goals, values, and each other, can turn a roadblock into a runway.

Breaking Personal Silos

Breaking silos in organizations starts with breaking personal silos. If you want a more collaborative culture, be the one who reaches across the aisle. If you want innovation, share that half-formed idea. If you want transparency, speak honestly about what you’re navigating.

When individuals show up authentically, teams shift.
When teams shift, organizations grow.

Final Thought: Step Into the Change

Transitions stir things up. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe it’s not about finding a way back to normal—but finding the courage to create something new.

So, what’s holding you back?
And more importantly—what are you ready to break through?

Amy Gurske

Our fearless founder, Amy Gurske, spent the first 20 years of her life in Corporate Ameica prior to launching sayhii. When she isn’t saying ‘hi’, you can find Amy in her garden, fostering dogs, mentoring incarcerated women, or spending with her family!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%9C%A8amy-gurske-6a04974/?trk=public_post_main-feed-card_reshare-text
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Breaking Silos in Times of Change