Monthly musings on the one thing that moves the needle in business
Last month, my calendar looked like a high-stakes game of Tetris - back-to-backs, big deadlines, exciting projects stacked on top of each other.
(Sound familiar? 😅)
I caught myself slipping into that old habit of saying “yes” to everything, trying to do it all and pushing harder in every direction.
Not because I had to (which would have been frustrating).
But because I wanted to. Which was energising... and overwhelming.
Being the “lead by example” coach that I am, I gave myself the same reset I give my clients when the wheels start spinning too fast:
I stopped. And asked one simple question:
👉🏾 “What’s the one thing that’s going to move the needle?”
Since then, that question has been following me everywhere - in client work, team conversations, even during those 2 a.m. "can't sleep" moments. 😅
Here are three real-world reminders that hit me hard - and got me back on track:
1. Your People Are Your Strategy.
I recently worked with a client in full growth mode - fresh funding, bold targets, a wave of new hires.
Naturally, their focus was all-in on strategy, product, and sales. Exactly what you’d expect at that stage, right?
But within six months, a few cracks started to show:
That’s when it clicked for them:
It wasn’t about tightening the strategy.
It was about strengthening the people who would deliver it.
Once they identified and prioritised this one thing everything changed!
By shifting focus to leadership development, team alignment, and strengthening their leadership, the results spoke for themselves:
And reminded them that your people are your strategy.
2. Impact Beats Hours (Every Time!)
Early in my career, I worked with two leaders who couldn’t have been more different.
One believed in “face time.” No one could leave before he did, even if their work was done.
The other would say things like: “Yewande, forget everything else. Just nail X, Y, and Z - these are the things that will make the difference for our client.”
Guess who drove better results?
(Hint: Not the one counting hours.)
The best leaders don’t reward busyness.
They reward clarity, outcomes, and focused action.
And it starts with us - knowing what really matters, and leading from that clarity.
3. Innovation Needs a Home.
At another fast-scaling company, the team was buzzing with ideas. You could practically feel the creative electricity in the air.
The problem? There was no system to catch the ideas. No structure to bring them to life.
We fixed it:
Suddenly, innovation wasn’t just "vibe" - it had velocity.
The insight: Creativity doesn’t die from lack of inspiration. It dies from a lack of structure.
Closing thoughts:
If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or like you’re juggling a hundred things, you’re not alone.
I was there last month. (And let’s be real - I'll probably be back there again. It's part of the business ride, isn’t it? 🤣)
But in a high-growth organisation, the enemy isn’t too much to do. It’s too much undisciplined doing.
The leaders and organisations that win aren’t the ones who move the fastest. They're the ones who move on purpose.
So join me this month in holding onto this one small but mighty question:
👉🏾 “What’s the one thing that’s going to move the needle?”
A tiny shift, but it changes everything:
Lighter. Clearer. More impactful.
How about you?
What’s helping you stay focused on what matters most these days?
I'd love to hear what’s been working for you.
Warmest regards,
Yewande
P.S. Subscribe to this newsletter for more leadership and people development insights to help you drive impact.