Growth Instigators Hotline

#298 Is it confusing?

• Aaron Havens • Season 3 • Episode 298

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Clarity trumps charisma in effective leadership, as unclear leadership creates hesitation and stalls momentum within teams. When leaders communicate clearly, teams move with confidence and purpose rather than second-guessing decisions or remaining inactive.

• Teams don't follow charisma long-term – they follow clarity
• If you're not being clear, you're accidentally being confusing
• Your team can't read your mind – explicit communication is essential
• Say the same thing more than once – clarity is achieved when your team repeats it back
• Define what "done" looks like by describing successful outcomes
• Don't just give answers, give direction – create pathways for success
• Ask yourself where you're assuming clarity but haven't actually checked for it

Visit growthinstigators.com to schedule a discovery call if your team is struggling with unclear expectations and priorities, and sign up for our free daily leadership emails to kickstart your days.


Speaker 0:

What if your biggest leadership challenge isn't resistance, it's confusion. Welcome to message 298 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Welcome to Winning Leadership Wednesday.

Speaker 0:

Why clarity is key in leadership Teams. Don't follow charisma, they follow clarity. Well, at least for the long term, charisma might be attractive, but clarity is key for ongoing success and growth. Unclear leadership creates hesitation. It slows momentum, it causes people to second guess themselves or, worse, do nothing at all. And here's the hard truth If you're not being clear, you're accidentally being confusing.

Speaker 0:

I've definitely made the mistake of not explaining exactly what was in my head and then getting upset with the team when they would or wouldn't do something I never fully explained. Oops on me, Newsflash. Your team can't read your mind. Here are three ways to bring more clarity into your leadership this week. Say the same thing more than once. What's clear to you isn't always clear to others. Clarity isn't achieved when you say it. It's achieved when your team repeats it back and owns it.

Speaker 0:

Number two define what done looks like. Don't just assign tasks. Describe the outcome. What does success actually look like? They can visualize it. They can move confidently towards it. And here's a hint Don't let a subpar done even slide by one time. Once a subpar done is enough. Yeah, you've set the bar lower, no matter what. Don't lose at this.

Speaker 0:

And the last point today don't just give answers, give direction. Good leaders solve problems. Great leaders create pathways. Ask yourself am I helping them win without me in the room, and what tools might be needed to ensure success? Here's what I want you to do today Pause and ask yourself where am I assuming clarity but haven't actually checked for it? Oops, the more clearly you lead, the more confidently your team can move. Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a message after the beep or send an email to Aaron at growthinstigatorscom and let me know. Tell me about a time. I want to hear a story when clarity caused frustration in your leadership and if your team is spinning in circles because expectations and priorities aren't clear. This is something I'd love to do. Let's fix that. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let's set up a discovery call and, while you're there, sign up for our free daily emails. These things are packed with leadership lessons to kickstart your days and, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do.