Clarity – Don’t Let Your Tax Bill Surprise You

Today is Tax Day in the U.S. Do you know how much you owe? Or perhaps you are looking forward to a refund? You would never leave your income taxes up to guesswork and in business, the same rule should apply for the disengagement tax. Leaders should always be aware of what they owe and look to reduce it through clarity.

Unclear expectations are a hidden surcharge on productivity. When employees don’t understand their roles, they hesitate, make mistakes, and disengage. Leaders must define success clearly and reinforce expectations through coaching and feedback. When people know what’s expected, they rise to meet it. Clarity creates confidence. 

Your Blueprint for High-Performance Success

In leadership, ambiguity is one of the most dangerous foes of productivity and one of the largest drivers of high disengagement tax. Unclear expectations aren’t just inconvenient—they’re a hidden surcharge on performance. Employees who don’t fully understand their roles and what’s expected of them waste time, make costly mistakes, and ultimately disengage. This is the productivity tax that no leader can afford to overlook. The antidote? Clarity.

Leaders who provide clear direction inspire confidence. Employees who understand the goals, their roles, and how their work fits into the broader picture are empowered to take ownership, make decisions, and drive results. The power of clarity isn’t just in what’s said—it’s in the reinforcement, the consistency, and the actionable feedback that follows.

Why Clarity is Like an Engagement Tax Credit

The simple truth is, that people need to know where they’re going in order to get there. Imagine a road trip with no GPS. Without clear directions, you’d waste time, get frustrated, and likely end up lost. The same happens in the workplace. When expectations are fuzzy, employees feel uncertain, leading to confusion, lack of focus, and even burnout. According to Gallup, employees who understand their expectations are 6x more likely to be engaged with their work than those who don’t.

Clarity isn’t just about the “what.” It’s about the “why,” the “how,” the “when” and the “who”. When employees know exactly what success looks like and how their contributions matter, they’re more likely to perform at their best, stay engaged, and contribute to the collective success of the team.

What Does Clarity Look Like in Practice?

• Set Clear, Measurable Goals: Employees need a roadmap. Define the outcomes and milestones that signal success and ensure the organization’s progress is visible to all.

• Provide Regular Feedback: Don’t leave employees guessing about their progress. Feedback helps course-correct and reinforces their value to the organization.

• Empower Decision-Making: When people know what’s expected and who is accountable for what, they feel empowered to make decisions confidently without waiting for constant direction.

• Communicate Strategy: Help your team see the bigger picture. When they understand the “why,” their work takes on deeper meaning and urgency.

• Run Purposeful Meetings: One of the clarity questions we ask in the SKOR Assessment is:

“In the past month, during team meetings and discussions, how clear have your goals and priorities been?”

If meetings lack direction, it’s a signal of deeper misalignment that impacts performance. The good news? It’s something you can measure, address, and improve with the right insight.

Clarity Is the Bedrock of Confidence and Accountability

Leaders who deliver clarity cultivate a culture of accountability. When teams understand the why and how behind their work, they’re not just following orders—they’re owning their roles. With clarity, you build trust, boost morale, and break down the barriers that inhibit productivity and growth.

Don’t let uncertainty drag your team down and don’t let the disengagement tax drag down your bottom line. As we continue our series on the Disengagement Tax, remember: Clarity is a critical element in reducing the tax on productivity. Empower your people with clarity and watch your organization drive forward.

Curious how your culture measures up? Take the first step with the SKOR Preview.

Stay tuned for next week, when we’ll explore how Courage plays a pivotal role in engaging employees and fostering innovation.