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Not everything works out the way we envisioned it would.
Sometimes the best move is to admit that the goal is no longer attainable and to regroup.
But there are two ways to withdraw. One is to surrender. When we surrender, we acknowledge defeat and seek safety.
The other way is to Retreat Forward.
By stepping back, temporarily, in order to gain clarity and reassess priorities, we can ultimately move forward with greater purpose and effectiveness.
By Retreating Forward, we can eventually attack the goal from a different angle or with a different strategy. This idea emphasizes that stepping back is not a sign of failure but a necessary pause for growth and progress.
For example, consider the complexity of an organization attempting to achieve sustainability goals amid a shifting regulatory environment.
Rather than pouring more resources into an unsuccessful effort, perhaps the better choice is to Retreat Forward with the aim of setting more realistic and impactful long-term sustainability goals using a different set of investments and strategies.
The idea of Retreating Forward also applies to relationships, financial investments, careers, professional development, personal health, and just about any long-term focus or goal that might become derailed for good reasons.
Instead of quitting or abandoning the desired long-term outcome, it is often better to Retreat Forward and find a new pathway to the goal.
We can readily admit that sometimes it would be best to discard certain goals and long-term objectives. Giving up on a destination that is impossible to reach or less desirable than we once thought makes practical sense.
At other times, the relationship, portfolio, job role, skill acquisition, or even weight loss is worthy of our pursuit even if the current approach doesn’t work. Rather than ditch the goal, it might be better to Retreat Forward instead.
Starting over again from where you are but with a new strategy or approach can be reinvigorating. Restoring a vision by retreating forward and then setting a new course is always an option.
Good leaders know it is how they set the sails, not the direction of the wind, that charts the right course.
