Finding Clarity in Complexity
Leadership today often feels like standing in the middle of a storm. Competing demands, urgent issues, and endless possibilities all push for attention. The challenge isn’t just managing the noise — it’s finding the clarity to focus on what really matters.
Clarity doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from asking the right questions.
In my years of leadership, I’ve seen organizations with passionate people and strong resources still struggle — not because they lacked ability, but because they weren’t aligned around a clear purpose.
At University of Alberta Properties Trust, for example, we had to balance financial return, community benefit, and long-term stewardship. The turning point wasn’t another financial model or technical report. It was clarifying the why — not just what we were building, but why it mattered to the university and the city. That clarity became a compass, helping us say yes to the right opportunities and no to distractions.
Clarity unlocks:
Focus → Decisions align with purpose.
Confidence → Teams move forward without second-guessing.
Momentum → Plans turn into action.
3 Questions to Ask When Seeking Clarity:
What’s the real problem we’re solving?
Who benefits most if we succeed?
What can we stop doing so we can focus on what matters most?
Clarity doesn’t remove complexity, it gives us the courage to move forward in the middle of it.
👉 What practices help you find clarity in your leadership? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
🔜 Next in this series: From Strategy to Impact: why so many plans sit on a shelf, and how to make sure yours doesn’t.
