There is a long list of skills and behaviors we ask for and hope for from our leaders. But there is a skill we would all agree is important, but seldom put on the list. That is the skill of creating clarity. Recently I wrote about how the most effective organizations are creating clarity. Clarity is an organizational challenge that ultimately falls to every leader.

Why is Creating Clarity So Important?

Let me make a bold statement. When leaders aren’t skilled at creating clarity, even the benefits of their greatest strengths are muted. Why? Because when there is greater clarity about the why, what, when and how of work, all of these things are enhanced:

  • Confidence increases – in the leader and individually
  • Trust builds – in the leader and across the team
  • Culture is clarified – which benefits everyone
  • Uncertainty is reduced – which is the enemy of nearly everything an organization wants to achieve

When you think about creating clarity this way, it is easy to see why it is such an important skill. While big-picture organizational clarity is needed, the lack of it can’t be blamed for leaders not creating clarity within their teams.

How to Do It

Let’s use the acronym CLEAR to highlight five things leaders can begin doing immediately that will reduce uncertainty and bring more clarity, trust and confidence to the team.

  • (Have) Clear outcomes. This is the personal work that is required. If you want to create clarity with others, you must be clear yourself. Do you know what your expectations are? Do you know what is most important to you, the team and the organization? Until you know what success looks like through all these lenses it will be difficult impossible to bring the highest levels of clarity to your team.
  • Listen better. Remember that effective communication isn’t just having a clear message that you send – it is ensuring that message is heard and understood. When you become a more consistently effective listener, you will know if your messages are clear and be able to determine what you still need to do to build both understanding and agreement.
  • (Set) Expectations. The core of clarity is expectations. When people know what is expected of them, their chances for success are immediately elevated. Make sure you set clear expectations about the what, where, when, and how of work – and find out would people expect of you too.
  • Apply priorities. If you have too many priorities, you ultimately don’t have any. As we already talked about, make sure you know what the most important outcomes are, and then keep them aligned with your work. Remember that clarity is enhanced when people see your actions aligned with your words.
  • Regular (and rich) communication. Clarity is enhanced through repetition of important messages, but also by the regular opportunities to have an open conversation about issues, concerns, priorities, direction and more. As simple as it sounds, leaders create greater clarity by having purposeful and regular communication with team members (both one on one and in groups). These conversations need to have space for open questions and include your intention to continue to build clarity in all parts of the work.

When you consider the components of the CLEAR acronym, two things become clear – all can be applied immediately, and there is likely one that is the best place for you to start. 

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Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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