Taking the Time to Plan

“How can you hold people accountable to an outcome when you don’t give them any idea of how you want them to get there?”

I asked that question of a leadership team a few weeks ago. The room got quiet.

We’d just gone through an assessment of their collective strengths and gaps. They identified it straight away — they’re fast-paced drivers. They set direction and move on. Speed is their identity, and it’s what’s required in their current market environment.

But one of their biggest gaps? They don’t take time to plan.

You might be thinking “It’s not the leadership team’s job to plan.” You’re right–not a detailed project plan. But a strong leader will at least point their team down the right path, and give enough of a plan so that the people executing can identify the resources they need, understand the milestones, are clear on what success looks like.

Without that, everything downstream breaks. Some people might be paralyzed and do nothing because they aren’t sure where to start. Others might spin and try a number of things, creating chaos. And since the plan isn’t clear, the prioritization isn’t either.

And then the leadership team gets frustrated that things aren’t getting done.

When I asked the question, they made the connection themselves: their lack of planning was undermining their ability to hold anyone accountable, because they weren’t setting their teams up for success.

You can’t demand accountability for outcomes when you haven’t been clear about the path. That’s not accountability — it’s a setup for failure.

Speed is a strength, and in many environments it’s required. But speed without intentionality creates drag. Maybe that drag is a lack of execution, maybe it’s change resistance. But it’s slowing you down.

What is your team’s speed costing you?

Hey there! I’m a leadership team whisperer, executive coach, and speaker. I guide leadership teams in high-growth companies to achieve rapid growth in a healthy, sustainable way. I coach senior leaders to discover the path to lead with ease.

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