“A lack of clarity could put the brakes on any journey to success”
-Steve Maraboli
Effective leadership is not easy and without proper direction, it is nearly impossible. Goal clarity is a necessary element for all successful individuals to understand their path forward and lead with confidence. Whether you’ve struggled to get started on projects, or you’ve been feeling a general lack of direction with your work, it might be time to hit pause and reevaluate your short and long-term goals.
Here are six signs that you need clarity as a leader.
1. You Have Difficulty Getting Started on Tasks
If you’re struggling to find the motivation to get started on projects, it’s likely that a lack of direction is to blame. It’s difficult to chug along with work when you’re not entirely sure of the purpose or end goal.
2. It Seems Nearly Impossible to Narrow Down Ideas
Without clarity, it can seem daunting to narrow down ideas, and determining the best solution can be challenging if you’re unsure of your desired result. Ask yourself, how can you make informed decisions without having your goals in-check?
3. You Fail to Correctly Prioritize Ongoing Projects
Organization of tasks and understanding the urgency of certain projects is an important skill for leaders. This demonstrates that you have the ability to see the big picture and recognize the value and importance of each individual task and its relation to your end goal. If you’re failing to correctly prioritize, the smartest move you can make is to hit pause and take the time to identify the necessary steps to achieving your vision.
4. It Becomes More Challenging to Focus on Work
Without clarity, the mind begins to wander. If you’ve noticed a dip in motivation and struggle to focus on work, take it as a warning sign that you may be starting to veer off course. This is a time to reevaluate those priorities and make sure they are in check with your overarching plans.
5. You Lose Confidence and Begin to Question Yourself
In order to be considered a leader, you must have followers. How can you expect others to follow in your footsteps if you lack confidence in your own path forward? If you’ve begun to question yourself or your work, it won’t take long for others to raise their own concerns. To maintain confidence in yourself as well as others’ confidence in you, it is vital to strive for goal clarity.
6. You Feel Stuck and Out of Control
Feeling out of control can be a frustrating and sometimes even scary experience. After thoughtlessly going through the motions, you may find yourself stuck in a routine and unable to view the bigger picture or light at the end of the tunnel. Take this as an opportunity to reset your goals and give yourself a fresh outlook. Starting from scratch with a new plan will provide a renewed sense of purpose and understanding.
It’s crucial to address a lack of clarity head-on. If any of the above warning signs resonated with you, take a moment to consider your own goals and identify how they align with your current work. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to admit you’re feeling lost, and enlisting the help of an objective third-party can be elemental in designing a new path to success.
About Dr. Wilkerson, PD, MBA, PCC.
Do you want to increase your impact? Do you want to increase profits under your leadership? Do you want to develop and use your abilities to the fullest to better connect with and lead others? Executive Leadership Coaching covers these bases. Dr. Jerrund Wilkerson, PD, MBA, PCC, has more than 30 years of successful executive leadership coaching in the United States and internationally.
As a licensed pharmacist, he is particularly passionate about helping develop effective leaders in the healthcare community. Dr. Wilkerson has coached and trained thousands of managers and leaders. He is a certified coach and member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team.
CLICK HERE to learn more.