How Clear Direction Creates High-Performing Teams
May 21, 2025
Over the course of my leadership journey—from my early days as a young officer to serving as a police chief and now teaching leaders across the country—I’ve come to realize one truth that holds strong no matter where you lead or who you’re leading: Clarity drives performance.
As leaders, we sometimes forget how much weight our words carry. We assume people “get it” because it makes sense to us. We assume they’ll connect the dots. We assume they’ll take initiative. But here’s the hard truth: people don’t move with confidence when they’re confused. When we’re not clear, we slow down our teams without even realizing it.
I remember early in my career, I had a supervisor who was passionate, hardworking, and well-meaning—but he was vague. His directions left a lot of room for interpretation. I found myself constantly asking questions or waiting for clarification before I acted. Not because I didn’t want to do the job—but because I wasn’t sure what exactly needed to be done. That uncertainty caused delays. It drained momentum. And it created unnecessary frustration for everyone involved.
Years later, when I found myself in a leadership role, I made it my mission to be different. I wanted my people to know exactly what was expected of them. I didn’t want them hesitating. I wanted them running. Running toward the goal. Running with confidence. Running because they knew the mission, understood their role in it, and believed they had the tools to get it done.
And that only happens when the leader is clear.
Clarity is not about overexplaining or controlling every step. It’s about removing the guesswork. It’s about giving people direction, confidence, and purpose. When your team is clear on what you’re asking, why it matters, and what the desired outcome looks like, they feel empowered—not just to do the work, but to own it.
Let me be honest—this isn’t always easy. Clarity takes effort. It takes intentional communication. It means slowing down long enough to make sure your message lands the way you need it to. It might mean repeating yourself. It might mean checking for understanding. It might even mean simplifying your language or being more direct than you’re comfortable with.
But the payoff? It’s worth it. A clear leader creates a focused team. A focused team becomes a high-performing one. And a high-performing team makes the organization stronger.
So here’s my encouragement to you:
If you want to lead more effectively—start by getting clear. Before your next meeting, conversation, or decision, ask yourself these three questions:
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What is the main message I want to communicate?
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What does success look like for my team?
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What questions might someone have after hearing this—and how can I answer them upfront?
Give people clarity and you’ll get commitment. Give people confusion and you’ll get hesitation.
Leadership is hard enough as it is. Don’t let a lack of clarity be what holds your team back.
Be bold. Be clear. And keep leading with purpose. Your people deserve it—and so does the future of your organization.
- Dean Crisp
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