Tiny signs you're making progress (even when it feels like you're not)

When you’re in the thick of it and feeling particularly down on yourself or your work, it can often feel like you’re making no progress whatsoever. One step forward, fifteen steps back.

But progress isn't always loud—especially at work. Sometimes it looks like this:

• You chose rest over forcing it. Even if you felt guilty about it. You didn’t do that extra task someone had asked you to do because you didn’t have the mental bandwidth to do it.

• You finished something small. One task, one email, one step you didn’t feel like taking. That 5-minute task you’ve been putting off for months is done.

• You noticed a bad habit... and paused. You didn’t have to fix it perfectly. Awareness is movement. Maybe you caught yourself spiraling into negativity or you were about to complain about something to a direct report that really shouldn’t be a conversation you have with them.

• You asked for help. Even if part of you wanted to "just do it yourself." Your team is here to work with you.

• You forgave yourself faster. For being human, for messing up, for not meeting every expectation. You can’t be perfect every time.

As leaders, we’re wired to chase big wins—launches, promotions, visible milestones.
But the real wins are often boring. They’re the tiny, invisible choices that rebuild trust, resilience, and momentum.

I’ve been in this season of recovering from burnout so this is particularly real for me right now. I do have some big wins mixed in there (getting a new job is a big win!), but most of my wins these days are small.

• I got 7 hours of sleep 5 nights in a row (better than my 4-5 during my time of high stress)

• I completed my required 2-hour harassment training (a day late and in 4 hours)

• I finally booked a DEXA scan and RMR test, something my dietitian has been asking me to do for months (and now I wish I had done it months ago)

• I’m forgiving myself for easily for not feeling motivated

No one is handing out trophies for recognizing when you're tired and delegating instead of pushing through.

But that decision? That’s what keeps you in the game long-term. That’s what sets the tone for your team.

Progress doesn’t always feel like winning.

Sometimes it feels like not quitting.

And that counts, too.

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