How Do You Handle Workplace Challenges? Learning From Case Studies

Forbes

14-07-2025

Shavonnah Roberts Schreiber is an independent board director, high-performance coach, advisor and Founder & CEO of SNR Creative.
Success isn't a straight line. There are bumps in the road and various challenges that we face—especially in the workplace. But often, we are nimble and ready.
So, how do you fare when it comes to a challenge? Let's review some common challenges and case studies below and think about them. What would you do differently? Do the case studies inspire you to handle your next challenge a little differently?
Maximizing Impact With Minimal Budget
One of the most common obstacles in business is operating within tight budget constraints and delivering a high-impact product. Instead of succumbing to this challenge and viewing it as a setback, I recommend taking it as a new opportunity to flex your skills and think outside the box.
For example, I was once tasked with launching a new project with a small marketing budget. Instead of splurging on costly paid ads, we focused on user-generated content and community engagement. We identified relevant online communities through social media where our target audience was highly active. We generated organic interest and awareness by engaging in discussions, sharing insights and subtly introducing our product through authentic conversations.
We also generated buzz with pop-up events in strategic locations that directly reached our ideal consumer. These in-person experiences allowed us to tell our story and directly show our product. A huge bang for a small buck!
When working with a small budget, here are my suggestions:
1. Focus on core activities and key objectives. Determine the most critical goals and focus your resources on achieving them. This ensures that your limited budget is used effectively.
2. Foster a culture of innovation and encourage creative solutions. Involve your team in brainstorming sessions to find innovative ways to achieve goals with limited resources. Sometimes the best ideas are the free or low-cost ones.
3. Build strategic partnerships. Collaborating with other departments or organizations can help you share resources and minimize costs. Look for opportunities to collaborate on projects or co-host events.
Pivoting In Response To Industry Changes
Industries are constantly evolving, which often leads to new businesses starting and the end of others. Blockbuster is a prime example of a massive company that didn't adapt to a changing environment.
A colleague once worked at a company that faced sudden regulatory changes that threatened to disrupt its core operations. While some leaders simply can't (or won't) adapt, resisting change can often lead to a sinking ship.
Rather than seeing this challenge as the Titanic's iceberg, my colleague worked with cross-functional teams to reassess the approach. As a result of the analysis, they shifted the strategy to ensure compliance while identifying new market opportunities created by this change. The new game plan included:
1. Conducting new research on the adapted market
2. Hosting internal workshops to educate employees on new regulations
3. Collaborating across all departments to determine how the company needed to evolve
4. Refining the product and messaging to align with the updated strategy
5. Exploring additional revenue streams to diversify and future-proof the business
In times of uncertainty, I recommend that leaders shift from certainty to curiosity and from trying to control things to being flexible and adapting quickly to changes.
Aim to leverage core strengths in new ways by identifying transferable skills, assets or processes that can be applied to new markets or services. And test and iterate quickly. Launch small-scale pilots or minimum viable products (MVPs) to validate new directions. Gather feedback, analyze results and refine your approach.
Aligning Stakeholder Expectations For Long-Term Success
One of the biggest challenges in any business environment is managing expectations. Whether you are managing expectations with a client, stakeholder or direct manager, different perspectives can create friction and slow progress.
As an owner of an advisory firm, I constantly manage various inputs and personalities. That comes with managing expectations. You know what they say about "too many cooks"!
In one case, I ran into the obstacle of managing the direct client and an outspoken board member. With the two of them having differing views and conflicting measurements of success, the challenge I faced was to make them both happy and do what I felt would be the best outcome for the job I was hired to do. To navigate this complexity, I developed a roadmap that outlined clear milestones, set realistic expectations and kept all stakeholders informed. Key actions included:
1. Establishing a phased rollout with measurable goals at each stage
2. Creating transparent reporting mechanisms to track progress
3. Scheduling regular check-ins with stakeholders to gather feedback
4. Ensuring alignment between leadership vision and employee needs
Through establishing an open line of communication and getting buy-in on achievable goals, the initiative gained momentum and, most importantly, trust among all stakeholders. With that trust, the leadership loosened the reins, which allowed me to complete my tasks to accomplish the goals I was set to achieve.
As Simon Sinek says, 'Communication is not about saying what we think. Communication is about ensuring others hear what we mean.' In these scenarios, try to understand others' goals, learn what success would mean to each of them and ensure your line of communication is clear so you can earn trust and reach your goals.
Viewing Challenges As Stepping Stones
To conclude, challenges are inevitable, whether they are personal or professional. From navigating corporate politics to rewiring your thinking, we need to find a way to overcome them and take the next step. But no matter the challenge's complexity, remember that every setback is a stepping stone to creating a greater outcome.
Now, I ask you: What case studies do you have on workplace challenges and how did you (or did you not) overcome them? Would you do anything different today? I'd love to hear!
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