Try Harder Isn’t a Strategy

Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority

“Try harder” isn’t a strategy—it’s a stall tactic.

In today’s episode, James unpacks why effort alone isn’t enough to drive real execution. Leaders often default to emotional language when what’s actually needed is structural clarity. You’ll learn what to say — and what to ask — instead of repeating the motivational mantras that burn people out without moving the business forward.

In this episode:

• Why “try harder” feels right, but fails
• The hidden obstacles that get mislabeled as effort problems
• What high performers actually need from you as a leader
• A better question to ask when things stall

Ask yourself:

What’s preventing progress, and have I made it undeniably clear what matters most?