You Made the Call—So Why Isn’t Anything Happening?

The Frustration of Decisions That Go Nowhere

You made the decision. The path forward seemed clear. Yet weeks later… nothing has changed.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Leaders and teams frequently struggle with decisions that don’t translate into action. Instead, they get stuck in:

? Endless follow-ups with no real progress

? Confusion over ownership and next steps

? Competing priorities drowning out execution

? Silent resistance or lack of alignment

For those who’ve heard me talk about decision-making hygiene or decision making mechanics, you’ll know that a major symptom of poor decision-making is that it doesn’t lead to action.

So, let’s assume you made a decent decision—but still, nothing happened. Here are five ways to fix it, or find out in the process your decision making needs some revisiting

1. Communication, Communication, Communication

Especially in fast-paced, VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) business environments, decisions often stall because the context behind them isn’t shared with those who need to execute.

Your team needs confidence in the decision. If they don’t understand why it was made, hesitation creeps in.

A simple solution:

? Share how much effort and discipline went into making the decision

? Explain the rationale, especially if the most “obvious” option wasn’t chosen

? Provide transparency around constraints, trade-offs, and intended impact

?? AI Assist: AI can summarize your decision-making process in different formats for different audiences, helping tailor your communication effectively

2. Clarify Roles, Responsibilities & Timelines

In larger organizations or multi-team collaborations, lack of execution clarity is a key reason decisions stall.

? Who is responsible for executing this decision?

? What exact parameters and expectations are in place?

? What is the first measurable action?

? When do you expect to see progress?

? How will you track and report back?

If multiple teams are involved, communicate this information jointly to avoid conflicting interpretations. Everyone should hear the same instructions, at the same time, with the same expectations.

3. Close the Commitment Gap

As leaders, we see the bigger picture—we have clarity on where the organization is going. But that doesn’t mean our teams do.

Your decision may seem obvious and logical to you. But for those tasked with execution, there might be a gap:

?? They don’t see why this decision is critical

?? They don’t understand how it ties into larger company goals

?? They don’t feel urgency to act on it right now

?? Fix this by clearly explaining:

• What pain points this decision solves
• What success looks like at the finish line
• How executing this decision drives company-wide impact

When people understand the stakes, they take pride in their work. Clarity drives commitment—and commitment drives action.

4. Break the “Yes, But…” Cycle

Sometimes, your team isn’t executing because they assume the decision isn’t final—or that it might change again soon. This happens when:

? (Current or past) Leaders frequently reverse(d) or modify / modified past decisions

? Decision-making feels, or used to feel for a long time inconsistent or unpredictable

? Employees aren’t confident that this is the path forward

?? Build trust in your decision-making by:

? Documenting major decisions and circulating them immediately

? Being transparent—only revisit decisions when critical new data emerges

? Creating decision logs so past choices remain visible and don’t get rehashed

If you find yourself hesitating to document a decision because you think it might change again, that’s a sign the decision wasn’t well made in the first place.

?? AI Assist: AI-powered decision logs can help track choices, rationale, and execution status, preventing unnecessary backtracking.

5. Identify & Remove Roadblocks Early

If execution isn’t happening, ask the team to frame the challenge and report back. Instead of assuming resistance, invite problem-solving:

? Give them structured time (a few days or a week) to analyze the task

? Ask them to identify potential bottlenecks, such as Lack of resources,

Unclear accountability and Conflicting priorities

? Have them propose solutions and a check-in plan with clear milestones

When teams proactively flag what they need to succeed, they take ownership of execution.

?? AI Assist: AI can analyze past decisions to predict potential execution bottlenecks, suggest ways to avoid them, and even draft trackers and communication plans to streamline execution.

Closing the Decision-Action Gap

Decisions without execution aren’t decisions—they’re ideas.

To ensure your choices translate into action:

? Communicate decisions clearly—including context and reasoning

? Assign clear ownership, actions, and timelines

? Bridge the commitment gap by tying execution to business impact

? Stop revisiting decisions unnecessarily—build confidence in execution

? Empower teams to surface roadblocks and clear obstacles early

If working through these five steps triggers resistance or you struggle to answer key questions, that’s a red flag—it may mean your decision wasn’t solid to begin with. That’s when it’s time to revisit your decision-making mechanics.

What’s Next?

?? Starting end of February, I’ll be hosting a monthly webinar on decision-making mechanics. If execution gaps are slowing your business down, keep an eye out for sign-up details!

?? Need help making better, faster, more actionable decisions? ?? Let’s talk. Reach out at [email protected] or book some time to connect here: https://calendly.com/de_maartje/talk-more-25min

Exciting Podcast News

I'm thrilled to announce that my podcast, "The Business Emergency Room," is evolving. After 30 episodes in Season 1, Season 2 will launch at the end of February with added video content, improved sound quality and other enhancements to provide even more value. In the meantime, check out our latest episodes for insights into effective decision making mechanics and people dynamics to turn chaos around and thrive in turmoil.

??? And check out my podcast, The Business Emergency Room, for real-world insights on navigating business chaos and turning decisions into action. Available on all audio platforms here: https://the-business-emergency-room.captivate.fm/

Recent Episodes:

Episode 27: Defusing the Dilemma: How Resourcefulness Solves Big Challenges.

Discover how Maartje tackled a high-stakes business challenge in the middle east, leveraging expertise, transparency, and bold decision-making.

Episode 28: The Leadership Formula for Turbulence: Trust, Resilience, and Psychological Safety with Maxine Legall, MBA, MSW, CPXP .

Discover how to foster psychological safety, build trust, and balance empathy with accountability for high-pressure business environments.

About Maartje

Maartje Jorritsma van Krieken is a distinguished expert in project, change, and crisis management, with a rich career in the oil and gas industry, largely in major frontier projects around the world. Her achievements include saving billions through the transformation of a global hub and navigating complex projects under high pressure. As a mother of three, she's navigated the male-dominated field with expertise and empathy, mastering leadership and strategic planning across diverse teams.

Since 2019, Maartje has been an executive consultant and coach, aiding organizations and entrepreneurs in overcoming crises and achieving major turnarounds. Her notable work includes aiding the national crisis line 211 during the Covid-19 pandemic and rescuing a hydrogen fuel cell start-up. In New Orleans, she owns and runs the Shrunk 3D Franchise, serves as a board member for various companies and non-profits and is an active mentor in Tulane University’s Innovation Institute and Loyola University's Women’s Leadership Academy.

Maartje holds a MSc in Industrial Design Engineering from the Technical University in Delft, with further accreditations in coaching, supply chain management, HR, Strategic Risk Management & Decision Quality and Diversity and Inclusion. Her keynotes, known for their authenticity and practical wisdom, offer insights into navigating chaos with adaptability and resilience. Maartje's leadership style, characterized by infectious energy and clear communication, has made her a sought-after speaker and consultant, guiding teams and individuals through turbulence towards growth and success.

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