Here is a simple question: why do people not do what they are supposed to do?
This question has fascinated leaders for decades. One of the clearest answers comes from Ferdinand Fournies, who examined the experience of more than 25,000 supervisors around the world. His findings are remarkably consistent and surprisingly straightforward.
The top four reasons people do not do what they are meant to do are:
- They do not know what they are supposed to do
- They do not know why they are supposed to do it
- They do not know how to do it
- They think they are already doing it
Every one of these reasons points to the same root cause: a lack of clarity.
Clarity Is the Foundation of High Performance
Ambiguity is the number one enemy of high performance.
When goals are unclear, expectations become guesswork. When roles are unclear, accountability disappears. When direction is unclear, momentum dies.
Theodore Hesburgh put it well: “You cannot blow an uncertain trumpet.”
Clarity is not complicated, yet in thirty years working with organisations, Ian has found it is far from common practice. Leaders often assume they have been clear when in fact the message has not landed. Teams believe they understand the goal when in reality they all hold different versions of it.
High performance cannot exist in that gap.
The Leader’s Job: Remove Ambiguity
If you can be nothing else as a leader, be clear.
Clarity does not mean oversimplifying. It means removing unnecessary confusion. It means explaining the what, the why, and the how. It means checking understanding rather than assuming it. It means ensuring people know what success looks like and what role they play in achieving it.
Clarity accelerates performance.
Ambiguity crushes it.
A Road Map for Creating Clarity
For a deeper dive into how to create clarity within your team, listen to Episode 66 of the Leadership in Chaos podcast. Ian breaks down a practical road map for eliminating ambiguity and establishing a culture where expectations are understood, ownership is strong, and performance is consistent.
Listen to the full episode here:
Clear enough?
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