You can tell when a team doesn’t know what’s expected, it shows up in the way they talk. Someone says, “I wasn’t sure how far to take this.” another says, “I can redo it if you’d like.” No one means anything by it; they’re trying to do good work, but they’re guessing.
Over time, that guessing slows everything down. Meetings run over because decisions don’t stick, updates sound careful, or people check in again and again hoping to find the limit of what’s acceptable. Work still moves, but it feels heavier than it should.
Clarity starts with conversation. When teams define what success looks like and how progress will be measured, it builds confidence; people stop waiting for direction and start moving with purpose. The tone of the work changes too. Updates get shorter, decisions become quick and clear, and the room feels lighter.
When expectations are clear, the work moves steadily.
