Confusion is a Business Killer
Everyone complains about wasted time in meetings. But here’s the truth: the real price you’re paying isn’t in minutes—it’s in confusion.
Confusion kills clarity, stalls decisions, derails major initiatives, and silently drains the energy of your team. And the worst part? Most leaders don’t even realize they’re the source of it.
Why Time is Not the Real ROI
A McKinsey consultant once asked me, “What’s the ROI of BRIEF Training? How do you measure the impact?”
Sure, we can measure shorter meetings, fewer emails, and saved hours. But the real return isn’t just about cutting clutter—it’s about avoiding confusion.
Because once confusion takes hold, the costs skyrocket.
Think back to a moment where you were completely lost in a conversation. The speaker was unprepared, disorganized, or buried you in details you didn’t understand. You didn’t stop them and say, “I’m confused.” Instead, you nodded and tuned out.
Now multiply that moment across an organization. Here’s what it adds up to:
1. Misalignment
When people aren’t on the same page, progress grinds to a halt. A missed turn on the highway might cost you ten miles. But in business, a missed turn can waste months—or years.
Case in point: one company launched a multi-million-dollar product. Two years later, sales were dismal. When surveyed, only a handful of salespeople could explain what the product actually did. Confusion didn’t just slow them down—it destroyed revenue.
2. Poor Decision-Making
Confusion either stretches decisions out endlessly or rushes them recklessly. Neither is good.
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Endless debate leads to delays, missed opportunities, and “death by committee.”
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Snap decisions made without clarity create rework, wasted investment, and regret.
When communication is muddy, no one wants to propose new ideas, because they know those ideas will get stuck in a fog of indecision.
3. Frustration and Disengagement
Confusing communication doesn’t just waste time—it drains trust. People tune out, stop contributing, and eventually stop caring. That frustration leads to:
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Missed collaboration
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Declining morale
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Talent retention problems
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Eroded credibility for leaders
Confusion doesn’t just cost productivity. It corrodes culture.
Why Leaders Rarely See It
Here’s the kicker: Leaders driving big initiatives almost never think they’re unclear. Whether it’s a new product launch, a strategic pivot, or the adoption of AI, they believe they’re being perfectly understood. Meanwhile, their teams are nodding politely—while quietly lost.
Confusion hides in plain sight. And by the time anyone notices, the damage is already done.
The Bottom Line
If you think the ROI of clear communication is just “saving time,” you’re missing the bigger picture. The real ROI is avoiding the massive hidden costs of confusion: misalignment, poor decisions, and frustration.
Don’t underestimate it. Confusion kills momentum, profits, and trust. Just saying.
Want to Eliminate Confusion for Good?
Clear communication doesn’t become a habit after a single training session. It takes practice, reinforcement, and accountability. That’s exactly what BRIEF Team Builder delivers—a 12-month sustainment program that helps teams cut confusion and stay aligned.
Joseph McCormack first shared these ideas in his Just Saying podcast, Episode 376, What’s the Cost of Confusion?
