And how do you build that future?
Through conversations.
When we are working with organizations experiencing challenges, more often than not we find missing conversations.
Like when product and engineering aren’t talking.
So, the leader notices they don’t submit joint proposals.
So, they don’t build on each other’s ideas.
So, their messaging is out of sync, confusing the rest of the organization.
And, initiatives are stalled or, at best, slowing down.
What’s going on here?
Conversations that need to happen just aren’t.
As a leader, it’s up to you to notice what conversations are missing. Then, tee up opportunities and support for your team to have these conversations before moving forward.
I struggled with this, too. Earlier in my career, I used to “save time” by moving ahead, figuring the misalignment would all probably work out.
But more often than not, I was fueling cycles of confusion and frustration that took even more time to clear up. It was costly—not just in productivity, but also in relationships.
Had I taken the time to have the conversations—to review decisions with each leader, to check that they were on board, to make sure we were aligned on how to implement it—we could have moved forward with greater clarity, momentum, and trust.
The future you build depends on the conversations you and your team are willing to have today.