We’ve all done it.
We change a process. We bring in a new model. We launch another project.
And still… the same issues keep resurfacing.
It’s frustrating. Especially when your people are working hard.
This is what is known as the “Insanity Loop” a pattern I’ve seen in hundreds of teams over the last 25 years:
Doing the same things, in the same way, expecting different results.
Sometimes the packaging changes. The buzzwords change.
But the outcomes? Not so much.
So how do you know if your team is stuck in it?
Here are three signs to look for – and a way to start thinking differently.
1. You’re busy – but not making progress
Is your team flat out, but not getting further?
It’s not a motivation issue. People are trying. The to-do list is growing. The hours are long.
But when you zoom out, momentum is missing.
Often, it’s because activity has replaced clarity. When there’s no shared focus or alignment around why something matters, effort becomes diluted.
It feels productive – but it’s not moving the needle.
2. The same problems keep resurfacing
You’ve had the meeting. You’ve agreed the actions.
And yet, a month later, the same issue is back on the table.
Sound familiar?
This usually happens when the thinking behind the problem hasn’t changed. Teams jump straight to action without stepping back to reframe the challenge or explore possibilities.
So the fix is surface-level – not systemic.
If your team feels like it’s playing leadership whack-a-mole, this could be why.
3. Training has happened. Transformation hasn’t.
You’ve invested in development. You’ve rolled out change initiatives.
But the behaviour shift hasn’t stuck.
You hear things like:
“We’ve done this already.”
“We talked about this in the last away day.”
“We’ve got the toolkit… we’re just not using it.”
It’s not about more content.
It’s about building a shared way of thinking that leads to real, sustainable progress.
That’s the missing piece in most performance initiatives.
So How Do You Break the Loop?
When teams get stuck, it’s rarely because they don’t care.
It’s because they’re using the same thinking to solve the same problem – over and over.
The way out isn’t pressure.
It’s permission to think differently.
One of the 24 best practices in the Go M.A.D. Toolkit – and a favourite of many of our clients – is The 20 Answer Technique.
The 20 Answer Technique: From Stuck to Breakthrough
This is a fast and effective way to move from problem-thinking to possibility-thinking.
- Start with a problem statement
e.g. “We’re not hitting our targets.”
- Reframe it into a solution-focused question
e.g. “How could we possibly improve our performance this month?”
Use question starters like:
“What could I possibly…?”
“How could we possibly…?”
“Who could I involve to possibly…?”
- Write down 20 different answers – fast
No filtering. No judgment. Just go.
Quantity first. Quality emerges later.
- Review and spot the gold
One or two ideas will jump out.
That’s your next step.
We’ve seen teams unlock fresh insight in under 15 minutes using this technique – not because they suddenly became smarter, but because they gave themselves permission to think differently.
Final Thought
The Insanity Loop ends the moment your team stops repeating the problem and starts exploring real possibilities.
That moment begins with better thinking.
And better thinking leads to better results – every time.
