Diary of a Leader: Why Clarity is the Secret to High-Performing Teams
- Lindsay Sheldrake
- Jan 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Welcome to "Diary of a Leader" - Real Stories, Leadership Lessons, and Personal Growth
Ah, leadership! The thrilling, heart-racing journey of ups, downs, and all the delightful chaos in between.
Welcome to "Diary of a Leader," where I don’t just share the good, the bad, and the downright awkward moments of leadership—I also guide, mentor, and empower you to navigate your own leadership journey with confidence and purpose.
Leadership is more than a role; it’s a responsibility to grow, inspire, and help others reach their potential. So, as I reflect on my lessons learned, my goal is to equip you with the insights and tools to lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact.
And Today, I’m Serving Up a Leadership Lesson About Clarity
Let’s start with this: clarity is the foundation of execution. If your team isn’t clear on the vision, expectations, or their individual roles, then achieving results becomes a guessing game. And when things start falling through the cracks, it’s not because people don’t care—it’s because they don’t know exactly what they should be doing.
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.
The "I Thought They Knew" Leadership Moment
Every leader has had this moment—the one where something critical gets missed, and you’re left thinking,
“I thought they knew that was their responsibility.”
For me, that moment came during a high-stakes project where multiple teams were involved. We were on a tight deadline, and I assumed that everyone was crystal clear on their roles. I had outlined the big-picture strategy, assigned tasks in meetings, and trusted that my team would execute.
Then, the deadline hit.
And a key deliverable was missing.
When I followed up, the response caught me off guard:
“Oh, I didn’t realize that was on me.”
My immediate reaction? Frustration. How could they not know? It felt obvious. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized the real issue—I had assumed clarity instead of ensuring it.
This was a turning point for me as a leader. It made me realize that clarity isn’t just about giving direction—it’s about ensuring alignment and accountability at every step.
Clarity Can’t Be Assumed, It Must Be Created
That moment taught me a valuable lesson: if you’re surprised something fell through the cracks, there’s a good chance your team was, too.
Since then, I’ve made a habit of:
Confirming Ownership – Asking, “Who’s taking the lead on this?” instead of assuming.
Documenting Responsibilities – Whether it’s a RACI matrix, project plan, or meeting notes, writing it down eliminates gray areas.
Following Up – A quick check-in before a deadline goes a long way in catching misalignment early.
Because when clarity is missing, accountability gets shaky. And without accountability, results suffer.
Where Does Clarity Matter Most?
Clarity isn’t just about task assignments—it’s a leadership philosophy. It creates alignment across teams and ensures that every person understands how their role contributes to the bigger picture. Here are a few areas where clarity is absolutely critical:
Vision, Mission & Values - Your team needs to understand why they’re doing what they do. When the bigger purpose is clear, decision-making becomes more intentional.
Communication - Clear communication is the difference between alignment and confusion. If you’re not making expectations explicit, you’re leaving room for interpretation—and that’s where things break down.
Project, Quarterly or Annual Goals - Big-picture goals are great, but without clarity on how to get there, they’re just numbers on a slide deck. Define what success looks like at every level of the project and in your organization.
KPIs & Metrics - How does your team know if they’re winning? If success isn’t measured, it’s left to interpretation. Give your team tangible ways to track progress.
Organizational Design & Role Descriptions - A job title isn’t enough—each person should know exactly what they own. Clarity in responsibilities prevents work from falling through the cracks.
RACI Matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) - This simple tool eliminates confusion by outlining who is responsible for what, ensuring accountability at every stage.
Growth & Succession Planning - If people don’t see a path forward, they disengage. Clarity in career progression and leadership opportunities keeps teams motivated.
Why Leaders Must Prioritize Clarity
Lack of clarity doesn’t just slow things down—it creates frustration, misalignment, and inefficiency. Teams waste time trying to figure out what’s expected instead of executing with confidence.
As leaders, our job isn’t just to set goals—it’s to ensure that everyone has the roadmap to achieve them.
When you provide clarity, you unlock three key things:
Efficiency – Less time spent second-guessing means more time executing.
Ownership – When people understand their role, they take responsibility for their results.
Engagement – Clear expectations create a sense of purpose and direction, leading to higher performance.
Wrapping Up (Because Time is Precious)
Here’s the takeaway: If you’re frustrated by a lack of execution, start by looking at how clear you’ve been.
Clarity isn’t micromanagement—it’s leadership. It builds confidence, alignment, and results. So before assuming your team “gets it,” ask yourself:
Have I made expectations crystal clear?
Catch you next time, fellow leaders-in-training—and remember, clarity isn’t just a leadership tool. It’s the foundation of everything we do.
Stay tuned for more reflections and lessons from the trenches of leadership in the next installment of
"Diary of a Leader"
Comments