One of the blind spots I often see in leadership is the gap between asking and teaching.
You cannot ask team members to do something if you haven’t first shown them how to do it. You cannot expect an output that you never taught them how to create. When leaders skip this step, what follows is frustration on both sides: unmet expectations for the boss, and confusion or discouragement for the team.
That’s why clarity and teaching go hand in hand. It’s the leader’s job to lead, to set the direction, transfer knowledge, and equip people to succeed. Only then is it fair to ask for performance. On the other hand, bosses who only demand output without guiding the way may get compliance, but rarely get growth.
The distinction is simple. Leaders build capability before setting expectations. Bosses expect results without building the path.
Teams thrive when leadership leads first, then expects.
Because when people are taught well, they will not just deliver, they will excel.
