Pilot case 03

Competing Priorities and Strategic Ambiguity

Context

A leadership team navigating multiple priorities in a changing environment. Strategic intent existed, but was expressed through parallel initiatives, evolving messages, and shifting focal points over time.

Fog signals observed

• Competing priorities without clear arbitration

• Difficulty articulating what mattered most right now

• Teams interpreting direction differently

• Decisions revisited or re-questioned downstream

• Progress slowing despite high engagement

What we explored

Through a Clarity Scan, we explored how strategic intent was translated into priorities, decisions, and expectations. The conversation focused on how direction was communicated, interpreted, and enacted across different levels of the organization.

What emerged

The challenge was not alignment in principle, but coherence in practice. Multiple valid priorities were present, yet without a shared narrative to order them. This created ambiguity around trade-offs, decision criteria, and what “good progress” actually meant.

Once this was surfaced, it became possible to distinguish between strategic intent, operational priorities, and local interpretation.

What became possible

• Clearer articulation of strategic priorities

• Shared understanding of trade-offs and sequencing

• More consistent decision-making across teams

• Reduced rework caused by shifting interpretations

• Stronger sense of direction without oversimplification