{
  "id": 11608159,
  "title": "What you should do if your boss keeps changing direction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/what-you-should-do-if-your-boss-keeps-changing-direction",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91615318/what-you-should-do-if-your-boss-keeps-changing-direction"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When Clara approached her writer, she was drained, bewildered, and finally questioning her leadership abilities. Her supervisor had, once again, altered his plan for the seventh consecutive month. Initially, Clara felt assured about his direction and communicated the shift to her team. However, he then proclaimed a completely different idea during a meeting with the leadership team, a scenario all too familiar to him. This routine caused her to feel helpless and unsure of how to proceed. Responding to his announcements in meetings seemed too vulnerable, and he didn't appear to be receptive to her concerns during individual conversations. It was draining and disheartening, and Clara's team experienced similar frustrations, with mistakes increasing and a sense of disconnection permeating all levels. Clara's situation is unfortunately common in fast-paced business environments: a supervisor who frequently changes their mind without understanding why others are frustrated and struggling to deliver. The root cause is a clash of perspectives and priorities stemming from differing beliefs and experiences. One side believes in quick thinking and adaptability, while the other is focused on executing the leader's vision without hesitation. The team often complies with changes to avoid causing trouble, a behavior known as \"courteous compliance,\" which ultimately reinforces the boss's belief that there's no problem. However, this approach only perpetuates the issue, leading to slower and less effective work. To break this cycle, it's crucial to engage in open, inquisitive conversations rather than attempting to appease the boss. This process, called \"staying with it,\" involves asking questions to understand the reasoning behind the changes and discussing expectations. By adopting this approach, you can uncover the underlying motivations, align goals, clarify impacts, and negotiate boundaries to navigate the tension and improve overall team performance.",
  "summary": "When Clara came to me, she was exhausted, confused, and, for the first time in her career, starting to feel she was losing her ability to lead effectively. That morning, her boss had done the same thing he’d been doing every week for the past seven months. He had once again changed his thinking on the direction she and her team should be moving. Not two days earlier, she had left a one-on-one…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}