If you’re a business owner or leader, chances are you’ve struggled with team productivity at some point. You’re not alone—this is one of the most common challenges we see in businesses. In fact, a recent Gallup poll found that over 70% of employees are disengaged at work. That means the majority of your team members could be operating at or below expectations.
When you dig into why employees leave companies, the number one reason isn’t pay—it’s a lack of clarity. They don’t know exactly what’s expected of them, how they’re being held accountable, or what results they need to deliver to grow within the organization.
After working with business owners and leaders for over 30 years, I’ve found that most organizations struggle with three key areas:
- Lack of Direction – Employees aren’t clear on expectations or the company’s vision.
- No Accountability – Even talented team members struggle without clear accountability measures.
- Poor Communication Systems – There’s no structured way to ensure alignment, track progress, and keep everyone on the same page.
Now, imagine what would happen if you fixed these three problems. Your team would have a clear roadmap, measurable goals, and an easy way to track progress.
There are three simple strategies to make that happen:
- Create a Clear Plan
If you don’t have a plan, your team is just guessing. Start by defining what success looks like for your organization. Where do you want to be in three years? What are the top 3-5 goals you need to achieve in the next 12 months?
Once you have your annual goals, break them down into 90-day plans. These smaller, more actionable steps give your team clear milestones and keep them engaged along the way. Employees thrive when they know exactly what’s expected and can see their progress.
Note: You can join us at GrowthCLUB once a quarter to map out your 90-day plan! Check out our events page for more details.
- Set Measurable Expectations
Goals are great, but they’re useless if you don’t track progress. That’s where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) come in. Every team member should have 3-5 measurable results tied to their role.
For example:
- A salesperson might have KPIs like the number of calls made or deals closed.
- A customer service rep might track response time and customer satisfaction scores.
Beyond performance, I also recommend Key Behavioral Indicators (KBIs) to reinforce company culture. These define “how” you expect employees to work—like collaboration, leadership, or problem-solving.
- Implement a Weekly Communication System
Communication breakdowns kill productivity. That’s why we use a simple, structured meeting format with our clients called the LION Meeting:
- L – Last Week: Review KPIs and 90-day plan progress.
- I – Issues: Discuss roadblocks and problem-solve as a team.
- O – Opportunities: Identify ways to improve and grow.
- N – Next Week: Set commitments and action items.
When you meet regularly and follow this system, you eliminate confusion and create a culture of accountability.
Want to Take This Further?
Because this is such a common challenge, we’ve created a 12-week Management MasterClass to help businesses implement these strategies. It’s a hands-on program with live coaching that gives leaders the tools to drive accountability, improve team performance, and create real results.
If you’re interested in learning more or need help with a specific strategy, book a call with my team today. Let’s get your team working at their full potential!
