Have you ever felt like you’re driving a high-performance car, but someone else is holding the steering wheel? You’re heading in the right direction, but it feels like you’re not in control. That’s how most leadership teams feel when they don’t have alignment on what success looks like and why it matters.
Over the years, I’ve seen this issue again and again, both as a leader and as a consultant. I’ve worked intimately with teams undergoing large-scale transformations, helping struggling organizations move from underperforming to high-performing. These experiences span startups, publicly traded companies, and private equity-backed ventures.
In this season of my life, I’m focused on scaling my own businesses, but my passion for helping leaders unlock their full potential led me to start ACTIONABLE, a consulting business aimed at giving back. Through this, I’ve guided teams through turnarounds and transformations that defy the odds.
The Common Pattern of Leadership Team Failures
I’ve seen companies fail for the same reason time and time again—regardless of their size or industry. The leadership team lacks a crystal-clear shared vision of what their future state looks like and alignment on why it’s a must to achieve that future state.
Without clarity on the what and the why, teams waste valuable time, energy, and resources. Even the best operational frameworks or individual contributors can’t overcome this fundamental misalignment.
The 3-Step Formula for Leadership Team Success
Over the past year, I’ve developed a program to help teams break this cycle. I’ve run dozens of onsite and remote sessions, working with leadership teams to uncover the root issues and unlock their full potential. What’s remarkable is that this doesn’t typically require new hires, added resources, or armies of consultants. It’s about getting to the heart of what really matters.
1. Get Crystal Clear on What the Future State Looks Like
Most teams confuse the how with the what it looks like. For example, the healthcare company’s goal was simply, “Move to the cloud.” That’s not a vision—it’s a tactic.
A clear future state is vivid, measurable, and inspiring. For example:
- Reduce idea-to-production time from X days to Y days.
- Achieve fully automated deployments with a modern tech stack that attracts top-tier talent.
- Double market share and improve win rates against competitors.
When your team is clear on what success looks like, you can all work toward it with purpose.
2. Define and Align on the “Why”
The next critical step is to articulate why the future state matters. This is where most teams stumble. If the leadership team isn’t collectively passionate about the why, progress will stall.
The “why” must go beyond surface-level reasoning. It must answer why achieving the future state is a must:
- “If we don’t improve this portfolio company, raising our next fund will be impossible.”
- “If we don’t hit our numbers this year, our sponsor will fire us all.”
Without a unified and compelling “why,” teams lack the energy and urgency to persevere through challenges.
3. The How Comes Last
Here’s the paradox: When teams are aligned on what the future state looks like and why it’s a must, the how becomes much easier. Decision-making is faster. Accountability is higher. Political games evaporate because everyone is on the same page about where they’re headed and why it matters.
It’s so funny how most leadership teams focus on the how primarily. They get caught up in tactics, tools, and processes—but that’s wrong. The how will always follow naturally once the what and the why are aligned. It’s a step that gets overlooked, and it’s the root cause of so many failed transformations.
Why This Matters Now
When I meet with leadership teams, I often ask: “It’s a year from now. Describe what your team’s future state looks like and why it’s a must that you achieve it.”
In almost every case, I hear wildly different answers—not just about the future state itself but also about why achieving it is essential. That’s the problem.
Without a shared vision of what success looks like and a unified understanding of why it’s a must to achieve that future state, teams flounder. They waste energy debating priorities, chasing misaligned goals, or playing political games.
When everyone answers those questions the same way, transformation becomes inevitable. Obstacles are no longer barriers—they’re simply problems to solve.
A Season of Giving Back
I’ve helped startups grow into $50M+ businesses in under two years, advised teams to 10x their revenue, and supported turnarounds that seemed impossible. While I’m deeply focused on my own ventures, I’m dedicating this phase of my career to helping others thrive.
If you’re a leader looking to align your team, overcome challenges, or simply brainstorm, I’m here to help. Feel free to book time with me—no charge, no strings attached.
Together, we can unlock your team’s full potential.
