Roadblocks to Delivering Results (and How to Overcome Them)

Let’s talk about results. Those ambitious goals your team sets out to accomplish but somehow keeps slipping. I’ve never even met your team or seen your operation, but after years of working with tech companies of all shapes and sizes, I bet I can predict some of the roadblocks you're facing. If you're struggling to get the results you want, there’s a good chance that you’re running into at least one (probably more) of these three common challenges.

The Right People Aren't in the Right Roles

Does you have the right people with the right skill sets for the current needs of your business? It’s possible you have too many people with overlapping responsibilities, resulting in duplicate work and inconsistent outcomes. Alternatively, your team may lack the specific skills necessary to effectively address today’s challenges. Team members who were essential last year may not have evolved to meet the business's needs today. When roles are not aligned with current goals, results can suffer.

Am I suggesting that the answer is a costly reorganization? Definitely not. Instead, begin by clearly and explicitly defining your organization's needs today. Next, look for ways to encourage growth within the team so that each person has a clear understanding of their role and a path for developing the necessary skills to meet the organization’s goals. Address duplication in roles and find the gaps that will need to be filled by training or in some cases a new hire. This approach means you can avoid unnecessary restructuring while prioritizing the opportunity for team members to grow, improving retention.

Ambiguous Ownership and Responsibilities

A lack of clear ownership can truly be one of the biggest roadblocks to getting the results you want for your business. If everyone is responsible, then no one is truly accountable. When roles and responsibilities aren’t well defined, it’s all too easy for tasks to fall through the cracks. 

Your team needs clearly defined ownership, with each team member understanding not only their specific responsibilities but also how their work intersects with that of their peers. This collaboration is vital, but it requires a solid foundation of accountability and trust. When people know their specific lane—and the lanes of their teammates—it’s easier to stay on course and deliver results. Don’t leave it up to chance; set explicit expectations around roles and responsibilities so everyone can take ownership with confidence.

Doesn't putting someone in a specific lane put them in a silo and limit their ability to have influence? It's just the opposite. When no one is clear on who owns what then no one has any real voice. Everyone is just one of many. When individuals are empowered with ownership and autonomy in their domain, it provides them the platform from which to exert real influence as a member of the team. They are now the leading voice to speak for their specific area of ownership.

A Lack of Empowered Decision-Makers

Every team needs a decider—someone who can make clear calls to keep things moving. No kidding, right? It sounds like common sense but the truth is that many organizations are stumbling because they struggle to empower their teams and aren't able to build enough psychological safety to allow decisions to be made quickly and efficiently. Without a designated decision-maker, work can stall as people wait for approval or second-guess their choices. Everything stops shipping. Empowering team members to make decisions within their areas of responsibility doesn’t just speed up workflows; it also fosters a culture of trust and accountability where teams are more satisfied in their roles.

Imagine a workplace where the right person, with the exact skill set needed to meet your goals, has the authority to make necessary decisions to get the work done. That sounds like an organization that consistently delivers results.

Bringing It All Together

If you’re seeing these issues play out within your team, consider bringing in a strategic consultant (yes, like me!) to help your team realign roles, define clear ownership, and set up a decision-making structure that moves work forward. Imagine the difference when your organization runs on all cylinders, where each team member is empowered to take real ownership and you're finally seeing the results your business needs.