It's easy to be passionate about a big opportunity, but how you apply that passion as a leader is critically important. When faced with a game-changing project or a demanding client, the default instinct is often to push everyone to go faster, to match the intensity of the opportunity with the velocity of the work.
But simply emphasizing importance and pushing for speed without a clear roadmap is a recipe for failure. It creates a chaotic environment where progress is an illusion.
The High Cost of Directionless Speed
When a leader's passion isn't channeled into a clear strategy, it creates a vacuum that gets filled by external pressures and internal anxieties.
- Vulnerability to Whims: Without a defined plan, the team becomes vulnerable to the whims of the client or stakeholder. Every new piece of feedback can trigger a rapid change in direction, ensuring the team is always busy but never actually moving toward a stable goal.
- Team Burnout and Resistance: A lack of clear goals is one of the fastest paths to burnout. When the team doesn't know what the finish line looks like or why they are running so hard, the work feels pointless. They will quickly become resistant to new requests that don't show clear, strategic value, creating a culture of cynicism.
Before demanding more speed, a leader needs to ask a critical question: Who are we racing against? In many cases, the answer is not a competitor. It's a race against your own expectations or an arbitrary timeline.
The Strategic Alternative: Do It Well
If a significant opportunity is on the line, you owe it to yourself and your organization to provide the clarity needed for success. This means slowing down just long enough to do the strategic work first.
- Define the Ultimate Goals: What, specifically, are we trying to achieve? What does "done" look like? This goes beyond a feature list; it's about the business outcome.
- Create the Milestones: Break down the ultimate goal into smaller, tangible milestones that demonstrate meaningful achievement. This allows the team to see progress and celebrate wins along the way, which is crucial for maintaining morale.
- Get Alignment: Ensure that your team, your stakeholders, and your client are all aligned on the goals and milestones. This shared understanding is the foundation that allows you to say "no" to distracting requests and stay focused on what truly matters.
When everyone is moving in the same direction, you achieve real velocity, not just frantic motion. Remember: if it's important enough to do fast, it's important enough to do it well.