Persistence matters, but repeating the same approach isn't always the answer. Discover the Locked Door Principle and learn how adaptability, problem-solving, feedback, and resilience can help you find a better way forward.
The Locked Door Principle: Don't Keep Pushing When You Need a Different Key
Imagine standing in front of a locked door.
You push it.
Nothing happens.
So you push harder.
Still nothing.
You take a few steps back, run towards it and push with everything you've got.
The door still doesn't open.
At some point, you have to ask:
"Do I actually need to push harder—or do I need the key?"
It's a simple example, but it contains an important lesson.
Persistence is valuable.
Hard work matters.
Resilience matters.
But sometimes the answer isn't more effort.
Sometimes the answer is a better approach.
At PNC Plymouth, we believe personal development isn't simply about learning how to keep going.
It's also about learning when to stop, think, adjust and try something different.
Persistence and Stubbornness Are Different
Persistence means staying committed to the goal.
Stubbornness can mean staying committed to the same method even when it clearly isn't working.
There's a big difference.
Imagine your goal is on the other side of the door.
The goal hasn't changed.
You still want to get through.
But you're willing to change how you do it.
That's adaptability.
Work Hard — Then Work Smart
Hard work is incredibly valuable.
But effort becomes much more powerful when it's combined with thought.
Imagine spending five hours doing something inefficiently.
Then someone shows you a better method that takes one hour.
Working for another five hours using the old method doesn't prove commitment.
Learning the better method demonstrates growth.
Ask yourself:
"Am I working hard on the right approach?"
Results Give You Feedback
When something isn't working, that's information.
It doesn't automatically mean you're incapable.
It might mean:
Your timing needs adjusting.
Your communication isn't clear enough.
Your preparation needs improving.
Your approach doesn't suit the situation.
You need more knowledge.
You need feedback from someone else.
Poor results aren't always a verdict.
Sometimes they're directions.
Try the Handle Before Breaking the Door Down
There's an old comedy scene we've probably all seen.
Someone struggles desperately to push a door open.
Eventually, another person walks over...
And pulls it.
Sometimes the solution is much simpler than the effort we're applying.
Before making something more complicated, ask:
"Is there an easier way to solve this?"
Simple doesn't mean lazy.
Simple can mean intelligent.
Ask Someone Who Has the Key
You don't have to solve every problem alone.
Perhaps someone has already experienced the exact challenge you're facing.
Ask them.
This is where coaching and mentoring become powerful.
Someone else's experience might save you weeks of trial and error.
That doesn't mean blindly copying them.
It means using available knowledge instead of unnecessarily starting from zero.
Feedback Can Reveal the Lock
We all have blind spots.
You might believe you're doing something perfectly.
Someone watching from the outside may immediately notice the problem.
That's why useful feedback can be uncomfortable but valuable.
Instead of becoming defensive, ask:
"What are you seeing that I'm not?"
You don't have to accept every piece of feedback.
But you should be willing to examine it.
Don't Change the Goal Every Time Something Gets Difficult
There's another side to this principle.
Adaptability doesn't mean constantly changing direction.
Some people encounter resistance and immediately decide:
"This isn't working. I'll do something else."
That's not necessarily adaptability.
Sometimes the door simply requires more patience.
The skill is learning to distinguish between:
"This needs more time."
and
"This needs a different approach."
Look for Patterns
One unsuccessful attempt doesn't tell you much.
Repeated outcomes tell you more.
If you try something once and it doesn't work, you may simply need another attempt.
If you've tried the same thing fifty times and received almost identical results, it's probably worth reviewing the approach.
Persistence should include reflection.
Otherwise, repetition can become a trap.
Change One Thing at a Time
When something isn't working, people sometimes change everything.
Then they get a better result...
But they have no idea what caused the improvement.
A smarter approach is often to change one variable.
Try again.
Observe what happens.
Then adjust.
This creates learning.
You're not simply guessing.
You're experimenting.
Adapt Your Communication
The Locked Door Principle is especially useful when communicating with people.
The same explanation won't work equally well for everyone.
One person might want detail.
Another wants the main point.
Someone might respond well to direct feedback.
Another may need questions that help them reach the conclusion themselves.
If someone doesn't understand you, simply repeating the same sentence louder probably won't help.
Change the key.
Leadership Requires More Than One Key
Leaders work with different personalities.
Different strengths.
Different motivations.
Different levels of experience.
That's why one leadership style won't work perfectly in every situation.
Sometimes someone needs encouragement.
Sometimes they need challenge.
Sometimes they need clearer expectations.
Sometimes they need more responsibility.
Sometimes they simply need you to listen.
Leadership becomes stronger when your approach can adapt without your standards disappearing.
Keep the Standard, Change the Method
This distinction is important.
Adaptability doesn't mean lowering expectations.
Imagine the standard is:
"We communicate clearly."
That standard remains.
But how you help different people reach it may vary.
The destination stays consistent.
The route can change.
Failure Can Be Useful Information
People often treat failure as the opposite of success.
But sometimes failure is part of the process that creates success.
An unsuccessful attempt can tell you:
That key doesn't fit.
Good.
Now you know.
Try another.
Progress isn't always discovering what works immediately.
Sometimes it's systematically eliminating what doesn't.
Don't Let Ego Keep You at the Wrong Door
Imagine spending months trying one approach.
Eventually, you begin to suspect it's wrong.
Changing feels difficult.
Why?
Because you've already invested so much into it.
But previous effort isn't a reason to continue with a poor approach.
Ask:
"Knowing what I know today, would I still choose this method?"
If the answer is no, adjustment may be necessary.
Changing your mind because you've learned something new isn't weakness.
It's growth.
Some Doors Should Stay Closed
There's one final lesson.
Not every door needs opening.
Sometimes we become obsessed with something simply because we can't have it.
But occasionally the smarter question is:
"Is this door actually worth opening?"
Time and energy are limited.
You could spend months forcing one opportunity.
Meanwhile, a better opportunity may be available somewhere else.
Persistence matters.
But so does judgement.
Why the Locked Door Principle Matters at PNC Plymouth
At PNC Plymouth, we believe resilience and adaptability should work together.
People need the persistence to keep moving when things become difficult.
But they also need the self-awareness to recognise when an approach needs improving.
That means developing skills around:
Problem-solving.
Communication.
Resilience.
Adaptability.
Leadership.
Feedback.
Decision-making.
Personal responsibility.
The goal isn't to quit whenever something becomes difficult.
It's to become better at solving the difficulty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Locked Door Principle?
The Locked Door Principle is the idea that persistence doesn't always mean repeating the same approach. Sometimes achieving the same goal requires changing the method.
What's the difference between persistence and stubbornness?
Persistence stays committed to the outcome while remaining willing to learn and adapt. Stubbornness can mean continuing with the same approach despite repeated evidence that it isn't working.
How do I know when to change my approach?
Look for repeated patterns. If you've given an approach enough time, applied it properly, and continue receiving the same poor outcome, reviewing the method can be useful.
Does adaptability mean lowering your standards?
No. Standards can remain consistent while the method used to reach them changes.
Why is feedback important when solving problems?
Other people can sometimes identify issues that are difficult to see from your own perspective. Good feedback can reveal blind spots and introduce alternative approaches.
How does adaptability improve leadership?
Different people and situations require different approaches. Adaptable leaders can change how they communicate, coach and support people while maintaining clear expectations.
Final Thoughts
Persistence matters.
There will be times when the answer genuinely is:
Keep going.
Try again.
Give it more time.
Stay disciplined.
But there will also be moments when working harder at the same method simply produces more of the same result.
That's when you need to stop and think.
Look at the door.
Look at the lock.
Ask for feedback.
Try another approach.
Find the right key.
At PNC Plymouth, we believe resilience isn't measured only by how many times you're willing to push against the same door.
Sometimes real growth is recognising that you don't need to push harder.
You need to become better at finding the key.
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