High Performance Culture Can't Be Faked: A 4-part series on how leaders can rally from the recent Gallup results (Article 3 of 4)
Clarity isn’t just about job descriptions and quarterly goals—it’s the foundation of trust, efficiency, and engagement. Yet, according to Gallup’s latest findings, only 46% of employees clearly understand what’s expected of them at work. That’s a steep 10-pt drop from 56% in March 2020, signaling a crisis in workplace communication and alignment. What this means is that CEOs and their leadership teams everywhere are simply burning cash.
Half the time their people aren’t utilizing their time to effectively do the work that drives the organization forward. It’s like taking 54% of your salary cost and simply burning it up. Imagine if it improved by just 10%. That is ALL profit. Cha-Ching!!!
The Hidden Costs of Unclear Expectations
When employees lack clarity on what is expected of them, they often hesitate, second-guess themselves, or waste time trying to decipher priorities. This uncertainty drains productivity, lowers morale, and can lead to costly mistakes. Organizations with a strong culture of clarity see higher engagement, better performance, and lower turnover.
Bridging the Clarity Gap
While many leaders believe they are setting clear expectations, employees frequently report feeling uncertain about their roles. This disconnect arises because clarity isn’t just about transmitting information—it’s about making sure it is absorbed, understood, and applied effectively. The best leaders create an environment where employees feel comfortable seeking clarification and know exactly how their contributions impact the broader mission.
Three Quick Wins to Improve Clarity
Set and Reinforce Clear Expectations – Define what success looks like in simple, actionable terms. Repeat key messages in multiple formats (written, verbal, visual) to ensure comprehension.
Create a Culture of Feedback – Encourage two-way conversations where employees feel safe asking for clarification and sharing concerns about their roles and responsibilities. Weekly 1:1’s is a great setting for this.
Align Individual Goals with Company Objectives – Show employees how their work contributes to the bigger picture, reinforcing their purpose within the organization.
Moving Forward
Building a high-performance culture requires more than assumptions—it takes active leadership and ongoing refinement of communication. When organizations commit to clarity, they unlock higher engagement, stronger collaboration, and sustained success.
How do you start? Measure your culture using SKOR. In addition to Clarity, SKOR also measures Cohesion and Courage, allowing organizations to identify root causes and the actions they can take to reduce the Benjamin burn and not only grow profits, but more importantly, grow people.
Watch this video to learn how organizations can eliminate confusion and drive results.
Stay tuned for next week’s post on Courage.