Workplace Jiujitsu #7: The Invisible Weight of a Stuck Decision

Some decisions stall because they should. Others stall because no one’s really holding them. When no one takes the wheel, momentum fades, trust thins, and people drift.

Over time, I’ve learned to spot the signs early. Not the loud chaos of disagreement—but the quiet signals that something is stuck.

Here’s what I watch for:


  1. Vague language takes over

You start hearing things like:

“Let’s revisit this after the next milestone.”

“It’s still under discussion.”

“Leadership is aligned in principle.”

The conversation continues, but the clarity dissolves. Direction turns into delay.


  1. It keeps getting bumped

“Let’s loop back next sprint.”

“We’re waiting on more input.”

“Can you follow up again next week?”

The burden of motion shifts to whoever cares most. And that person usually isn’t the one empowered to resolve it.


  1. Everyone avoids ownership

“I’m on board, but it’s not really my call.”

“I thought we already decided that.”

“I think we’re waiting on [someone else].”

When no one is responsible, the decision drifts. It becomes easier to wait than to act.


  1. No one says no. No one says yes.

You’re not blocked. But you’re also not moving.

The conversation is polite. The tone is supportive. But the outcome is… nothing.

A stuck decision is still a decision. It just isn’t one anyone’s taking accountability for.



What to take away:

  • Decisions don’t always fail loudly. Sometimes they just fade.
  • If you’re the one always pushing, you may also be the one quietly absorbing the cost.
  • Calling out what isn’t happening can be a form of stewardship.

And it cuts both ways. Sometimes we’re the ones who leave others waiting. We may be delaying by not quite saying yes and not quite saying no. Knowing that helps us close our own loops more cleanly.



What to do next:

  1. Notice the drift. Watch how the language shifts from firm to fuzzy.
  2. Ask for ownership. Try: “Whose decision is this to make?”
  3. Map the stakes. What happens if this doesn’t move?
  4. Set your boundary. How long are you willing to keep following up?
  5. Name it. Gently. Try: “This seems to be circling. Can we clarify next steps or close it out?”


Workplace Jiujitsu is a series of field notes for professionals navigating messy systems. It's for those who influence without formal authority, spot friction before it compounds, and guide momentum in environments that don’t always make it easy.

This is entry #7. Follow Small Levers Lab and the author Gilberto Guadiana for more posts at the intersection of engineering, systems thinking and quiet leadership.