Culture Killer #1: Ambiguity - The Fog That Disorients Strategic Delivery

When playing Monopoly for the first time, my 10-year insisted on understanding the “rules of engagement” before play began. It’s because she knew she couldn’t win without clarity.

The stakes are higher in the workplace, and yet ambiguity is ubiquitous. The cost of diminished productivity, performance, innovation, and growth is steep.

The importance of clarity isn’t just common sense, it is brain science. The lack of certainty triggers a threat response, which is distracting and debilitating. The brain spends energy trying to make sense of things and protect against the unknown, pulling attention from organizational priorities, reducing engagement, and elevating risk levels.

Whether self-inflicted or a condition of the broader environment, understanding common causes and treating ambiguity is essential for peak performance.

If you want to compete, perform, and win, clearing the “fog of work” is essential.

By implementing clear expectations, reducing noise, and creating effective feedback loops, organizations can mitigate the negative impacts of ambiguity and grow trust, productivity, and innovation.

👉 Stay tuned to learn about the next Culture Killer - Bureaucracy.