The Drift Is the Danger

EP13: The Drift Is the Danger

Leadership in 5 | Execution Is Not a Pep Talk

Is your team really aligned—or just drifting quietly?

This episode unpacks how teams slide out of focus without ever realizing it—and what leaders must do to stay ahead of it.

We’re not talking about distraction. We’re talking about slow, quiet drift: the erosion of clarity, the absence of reinforcement, and the quiet fade of alignment.

If you’re a founder or executive wondering why things feel a little off— this might be the real reason.

We’ll unpack:

• Why drift is more dangerous than distraction
• How good teams lose focus without realizing it
• What your team says when they’ve stopped hearing direction
• The leadership rhythm that protects against drift
• A simple way to check your heading this week

Reflection Questions (from the episode):

• When was the last time you repeated the priorities out loud?
• If your team had to say what matters most this quarter, would they all say the same thing?
• Where have you assumed alignment instead of inspecting it?

Bonus Reflection Questions (for deeper insight):

• Are you reinforcing the heading—or just hoping it stuck?
• What rhythm in your leadership reinforces what matters most?
• Where are people making up their own direction—because you haven’t given one recently?

Links and Resources:

The right question changes everything. Grab the free Next Question Guide → NextQuestionGuide.com

Connect with James on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew

Want to learn more or work together? → JamesMayhew.com