Two questions to ask when you get stuck - Meeting Notes Newsletter

The piece is built around two simple questions that pull you out of analysis paralysis and into action. When you feel stuck, you ask yourself "What can I do?" - a prompt that forces you to identify any concrete step you control, no matter how small. That shift from victim to victor puts the problem in your hands and creates momentum. The second question, "Why will this work?", follows the first by testing the viability of the identified action. It pushes you past the natural negativity bias that teams often fall into, turning doubt into a quick sanity check that the chosen step has a reasonable chance of success. Together the pair form a micro-framework for moving from indecision to execution. Rob illustrates the technique with personal anecdotes from consulting work, showing how teams stuck in detail-level debates regain clarity when they list immediate actions and then validate them. The approach works in meetings, project planning, and everyday work-life friction, giving leaders a repeatable way to break cycles of overwhelm. For technical leaders, the value is practical: it equips you to coach teams out of stagnation, keep meetings focused on next steps, and maintain morale by demonstrating that progress is always possible. Applying the two questions regularly can improve decision-making speed and reduce burnout caused by endless rumination.