How to Overcome Business Frustrations

According to a Bain survey, 65% of initiatives fail because they require significant behavioral change. Making business changes stick long-term is one of the greatest challenges leaders face. Here’s how to overcome this hurdle: 1. Clarify Objectives: Without crystal-clear objectives, your team will struggle to understand the "why" behind the change. Define the goals in simple, actionable terms that resonate with every level of the organization. 2. Reinforce Behavioral Change: Behavioral change isn't a one-time effort. It requires consistent reinforcement. Regularly communicate the importance of new behaviors, and celebrate small wins that align with the change. 3. Support Commitment to the Goal: Leaders must visibly commit to the change. This commitment builds trust and signals to the team that the initiative is not just another passing trend but a core part of the company's future. 4. Ensure Accountability: Accountability is critical. Assign clear ownership for each part of the initiative. Use metrics to track progress, and hold individuals and teams responsible for meeting their targets. 5. Combat the Swirl of the Day Job: One of the biggest obstacles to lasting change is the day-to-day swirl of existing responsibilities. Prioritize the change by integrating it into daily routines and making it part of the fabric of the organization. During a recent corporate carveout, we faced the challenge of transitioning from a legacy culture to a more agile, entrepreneurial mindset. The real hurdle wasn't just setting new strategies but ensuring everyone aligned with the new way of thinking. By focusing on these key areas—especially reinforcing new behaviors and combating the daily distractions—we successfully embedded the changes into the company’s DNA, turning a potential roadblock into a stepping stone for growth. Remember, the real problem often isn't the change itself but our collective unawareness of what truly needs to be done to make it stick. Focus on these key areas to ensure that your business changes become lasting improvements rather than temporary adjustments. #Leadership #ChangeManagement #BusinessTransformation #Carveout

When an executive comes to you and says... "I think I did something I shouldn't have." It’s tempting to roll your eyes. Get annoyed. Or pull a Homer Simpson and disappear into the bushes. 🫠 But none of those things actually help. Instead, say: "Okay, let's get into it." Then focus on solving the problem in front of you. As you unpack what went wrong, be a scientist, not a judge. At least at first, you're trying to uncover facts, not render judgement. Once you've figured out a plan to deal with the situation at hand, zoom out. Try to get at the root cause so you can prevent similar problems in the future. Is there a system issue? Was it a one-off judgement error? Is there a gap in coaching or context? Then, act, learn, and move on. But if you find yourself holding onto the frustration—retelling the story to a spouse, a friend, a colleague... Pause and ask: “How is it serving me to stay mad about this?” Most of the time, it’s not. But sometimes, it is and that’s worth exploring. Does the anger make you feel needed? Morally superior? Like the only adult in the room? That’s your next growth edge. Because mistakes will happen. That’s not the point. What matters is how you respond: With curiosity, not resentment. With solutions and learning, not blame and shame. I’m curious how others handle these moments. Drop your take 👇 __ 👋 I'm Melissa Theiss, 4x Head of People and Business Operations and advisor for bootstrapped and VC-backed SaaS companies.  🗞️ In my newsletter, “The Business of People,” I share tips and tricks that help People leaders think like business leaders.

Overcoming obstacles doesn’t actually have to be hard 👀 Here are the 7 simple shifts that changed everything for me. I’m always honest with y’all, so trust me when I say that in my 20+ years in the “working world” I’ve had more failures than I can count… 😅 Through it all I’ve learned one thing: Success is just failure with better strategy. So next time you run into what appears to be a roadblock, implement these shifts: 1. Reframe the Challenge • A “problem” is just an unsolved puzzle. Instead of fixating on the end goal, focus on the next step and own it. 2. Break It Down • Overwhelmed? Zoom in. Big tasks get easier when you tackle them in small, manageable steps. 3. Leverage Past Wins • Think of a time you nailed something challenging. That’s proof you can overcome and ace this too. 4. Replace Frustration with Curiosity • Feeling stuck? Ask better questions instead of shutting down. Curiosity fuels problem-solving. 5. Change Your Inner Dialogue • Saying “this is too hard” tells your brain to give up. Saying “this is something new” sparks learning and action. 6. Celebrate Every Step • Even small progress deserves recognition. 👏🏾 Momentum builds when you acknowledge the wins. 7. Train for Quick Problem-Solving • Set a 10-minute timer. Pick a small challenge. Brainstorm solutions fast. (Speed breeds confidence) Fear shrinks when you take action. So today— No overthinking. No waiting. Just begin. Have you tried any of these? Or maybe something else has worked for you? Let me know in the comments so we can share with others!

A lot of PMM work today is about making sense of CHAOS and dealing with the ambiguity. Because a lot of conditions are changing rapidly today: 👉 Your boss could suddenly leave. 👉 Your team could get restructured/reshuffled. 👉 Q1 results underperform, and suddenly, goals shift. And now? You’re standing in the middle of chaos, trying to figure out a path forward - without even knowing what the path looks like yet. I spend a lot of time building strategies, processes, and frameworks and working with individuals, leaders, and teams on this… But the one skill that doesn’t fit into a nicely formatted template is dealing with ambiguity. And to deal with ambiguity requires some shifts in thinking. Here are four tips I hope you find helpful:   1. Seek leadership alignment early and often. Ambiguity is easier to manage when leaders are aligned. This means you need to overcommunicate to ensure leadership understands shifting realities, and regularly update key stakeholders on what’s changing and why. 2. Ruthless prioritization. When ambiguity strikes, focus on what matters most. ✅ Identify the 1-2 initiatives that align with core business goals. ✅ Block out distractions that don’t contribute to measurable outcomes. ✅ Then communicate what you will do/not do to your leadership (see point #1). 3. Take small steps When you don’t have all the information, take small steps forward. ✅ Don’t wait for perfect clarity. Test, iterate, and gather real-world data. ✅ Break down complex problems into smaller, solvable chunks Then move forward. Jeff Bezos’ 70% Rule: “If you wait for 90% certainty, you’ve waited too long. Make the call when you have about 70% of the information.” 4. Finally, let it flow Sometimes, you just have to let it flow and not overreact or course-correct too quickly. This one helped me the most (even as I run my own business). Like the cat in the movie FLOW (insanely great movie BTW), you survive by dealing with one thing at a time, solving one problem at a time… And as you move forward, the path reveals itself. —------- If you are overwhelmed by what’s happening in your job, let me know how I can help! My Thrive coaching program has helped dozens of PMMs go from chaos to confidence that holds up in times of change. #ProductMarketing #PMM #Leadership #Resilience #Onboarding

I decided to start the week with this. I’ve discovered that for experienced professionals, some things seem like platitudes. But for folks who are still feeling their way through their career, and “adulting" the right type of guidance helps. You feel overwhelmed at work & are not doing tasks you like. Unmotivated & frustrated, you're uncertain if you should quit, pursue a master’s program, or start your own business. But even that is confusing! Sounds familiar? Here is how I recommend you get out of that rut. 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: It's okay not knowing everything. The key is to embrace learning & keep growing each day. Accept that it's fine to make mistakes, provided you learn from them. It's part of the learning curve. 2) 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: SMART= specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at my job," say, "I want to improve my sales numbers by X% in Q3." This gives you a clear target and a way to measure your progress. 3) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 Y𝐨𝐮𝐫 G𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Have clear, tangible goals and visualize them daily. They serve as your signal in times of uncertainty and remind you what your targets are. 4) 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While motivation is a can aid action, it fluctuates. Discipline, on the other hand, keeps you going even when motivation wanes. Discipline is committing to your goals and working towards them, 5) 𝐀𝐜𝐭!: Instead of waiting for the perfect plan, take action based on the information you have. Be willing to adjust your approach as you gain new insights, moving closer to your goals with each step forward. 6) 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Seek constructive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. This can give you insight into areas where you can improve. Remember, feedback is not a criticism of you as a person but a tool to help you improve. 7) 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬: Maintain a sense of curiosity about your work and field. This can lead to a deeper understanding and open new avenues for growth. Ask questions, do research, & always strive to know more. 8) 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Building relationships can be beneficial. You can learn from experiences, get advice, & discover opportunities you would not have otherwise found. Don't be afraid to connect with others. 9) 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Everyone has days they feel inadequate. It's part of being human. Instead of feeling bad about yourself, approach these situations objectively. 10) 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞: Work is important, but so is the rest of your life. Ensure you have work-life balance. This prevents burnout & keeps you from getting overwhelmed. Relax. Spend time with loved ones. Remember, personal & professional development is a continuous journey of growth and self-discovery. Embrace the process, stay resilient, & enjoy the fulfillment that comes from progress and achievement. Have a great week. Davidson