When a project stalls, communication breaks down, or you feel the structure of your team start to wobble, the impulse is to reinforce, to tighten, to make it rigid again.

It was the kind of initiative that could have unlocked new opportunities and reshaped how the organization operated. There was genuine excitement surrounding it—yet in the end, something essential remained just out of reach.

You started out convinced you were leading a team, steering strategy, and driving toward a great vision. But somewhere along the line, your focus shifted.