Knowing versus Doing: Why Smart Teams Stall Mid-Air

We’ve all been there: sitting in a meeting with a brilliant, well-informed, and dedicated team. You have identified the right problems, brainstormed effective solutions, and even mapped out an action plan. And yet, weeks or months later, little progress has been made. The team is stuck, circling without landing. Why?

The gap between knowing and doing is often the culprit. Smart teams don’t falter because of a lack of expertise, resources, or good intentions. They falter because of an inability to transition from strategy to execution.

Knowing vs. Doing: A Subtle but Critical Difference

Teams are great at "knowing." They gather data, create strategies, and develop strong business cases for change. Knowing is intellectual, theoretical, and abstract. Doing, on the other hand, is messy. It requires taking risks, facing uncertainty, and sometimes making imperfect decisions. But execution is where the real work begins - outside of the team environment.

Why Do Smart Teams Stall?

Teams can get bogged down for a variety of reasons. Perhaps one of these applies to your team:

1. Fear of Imperfection When teams are filled with highly capable, smart people, they can get stuck in a perfectionism trap. They hesitate to implement a plan until every possible angle has been explored, every risk mitigated, and every outcome guaranteed. Unfortunately, this can lead to analysis paralysis, where the desire for flawless execution prevents any execution. Solution: Encourage a mindset shift. Emphasize the idea that "published is better than perfect." Remind the team that later adjustments are part of the process. By launching even a "good enough" solution, the team can gather real-world data, learn from it, and refine their approach.
2. Over-Planning and Under-Acting Many teams excel at planning but struggle to follow through. Without clear mechanisms for accountability, even the best-laid plans can become nothing more than"credenzaware" stored on a shared drive. Solution: Ensure every plan includes immediate action steps with specific deadlines and clear roles. Keep everyone accountable by checking in on progress at every meeting and addressing roadblocks head-on.
3. Lack of Clarity in Next Steps Teams sometimes get stuck because the big picture is too overwhelming. They know what needs to be done, but the path to get there feels daunting or is unclear. Enter procrastination. Team members may assume others are handling things or wait for more information before making a move. Solution: Break the plan into manageable, bite-sized steps. Define what “success” looks like at each stage and again, who is in charge of each task. Small progress is better than none, and these incremental victories can build momentum.
4. Failure to Anticipate Roadblocks Perhaps your team is underestimating the challenges that will arise during the project. Teams assume that everything will go smoothly just because a plan is in place. When roadblocks do appear, the lack of preparation can lead to delays or complete derailment of the project. Solution: Build flexibility into the plan by identifying potential roadblocks ahead of time and proactively planning for them. Create contingency plans and ensure the team has the tools to course-correct when things don’t go as expected.
5. Poor Communication A team can have a brilliant strategy, but if communication breaks down during execution, the plan will fall apart. Whether it’s unclear directives, misaligned priorities, or miscommunication between departments, poor communication can stop a project in its tracks. Solution: Ensure clear, consistent communication at every stage. This includes regular check-ins, transparent sharing of progress, and collaboration. Keep everyone informed and aligned, especially when unexpected changes occur.

Moving from Knowing to Doing

So, how can you help your team shift from knowing to doing?

• Foster a bias toward action: Encourage the team to take small steps forward, even if they don’t have all the information. Adopt an experimental mindset—test, learn, and adapt.
• Celebrate progress: Recognize and reward even small wins. Momentum is key to keeping the team engaged and motivated.
• Build accountability: Every plan should have clear action items with owners, deadlines, and review points. Regularly track progress and address any issues quickly.
• Embrace iteration: The first attempt doesn’t have to be perfect. Treat execution as a learning process and adjust as you go.

The Power of Doing

Knowledge is essential, but it’s execution that drives results. Teams that consistently move from knowing to doing are the ones that create real impact. It’s not about perfection or avoiding every mistake—it's about momentum, adaptability, and learning by doing.

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Kristin J. Arnold, MBA, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, CPF Master is a professional panel moderator and high-stakes meeting facilitator who shares her best practices for interactive, interesting, and engaging panel presentations.