It’s all about clarity

Words that stick: Want a successful business? Say exactly what to do next.

Let's be honest: most managers are horrible at giving feedback.

“I need you to take more leadership.”
“You should be more proactive.”
“Try to act with more ownership.”

We’ve all heard this. Maybe you've even said it.

It's the number one reason why your team's not motivated.

It's vague, it’s fuzzy, and most people have no idea what it actually means.

Telling someone to "step up" without telling them how is just a recipe for confusion, frustration, and inaction.

Great managers don’t do that.​
They don’t micromanage.
But they also don’t leave people guessing.

They give people direction. Clear actions.

Example

Vague: “You need to communicate more,”
Clear: "START sharing a short weekly update in Slack every Friday—just 3-4 bullet points on what’s done, what’s in progress, and what’s blocked. It helps the whole team stay in sync and reduces last-minute surprises."

Vague: “Be more confident with clients,”​
Clear: “STOP holding back when clients push back or ask tough questions. You actually know the product better than anyone on the call—own that. You don’t need permission to speak up—you’ve already earned that trust.”

The approach is simple, fast, and powerful:

• START doing [insert specific action(s)]
• STOP doing [insert specific action(s)]
• KEEP doing [insert specific action(s)]

Yes—it’s hard. Giving clear direction takes practice. It’s easier to stay vague or say nothing.

If you’re unsure what to say, here's a quick trick:
​Rewind to when something frustrated or impressed you.

What did you think or feel in that exact situation?

And ask yourself:
​“What did I wish they had done differently in that moment?”

“Last week, when the client asked for a revision and I had to chase the update, it made us look unprepared. START owning the next step right after meetings so things don’t fall through.”

Or if someone is doing a great job:

"KEEP leading with questions in team meetings. It’s helping others speak up and creates space for better ideas."

Don’t just say "step up" or "well done".

Say exactly what it looks like. That’s how B players become A players.

And how you build a stronger business.

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P.S.

It's a fine line between humility and confidence 😂

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