Adapting to Change in Fast-Paced Environments

Over the last year, I’ve seen many people fall into the same trap: They launch an AI-powered agent (chatbot, assistant, support tool, etc.)… But only track surface-level KPIs — like response time or number of users. That’s not enough. To create AI systems that actually deliver value, we need 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 that reflect: • User trust • Task success • Business impact • Experience quality    This infographic highlights 15 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 dimensions to consider: ↳ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 — Are your AI answers actually useful and correct? ↳ 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 — Can the agent complete full workflows, not just answer trivia? ↳ 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 — Response speed still matters, especially in production. ↳ 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — How often are users returning or interacting meaningfully? ↳ 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 — Did the user achieve their goal? This is your north star. ↳ 𝗘𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 — Irrelevant or wrong responses? That’s friction. ↳ 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Longer isn’t always better — it depends on the goal. ↳ 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Are users coming back 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 the first experience? ↳ 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Especially critical at scale. Budget-wise agents win. ↳ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 — Can the agent handle follow-ups and multi-turn dialogue? ↳ 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 — Feedback from actual users is gold. ↳ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 — Can your AI 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 to earlier inputs? ↳ 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Can it handle volume 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 degrading performance? ↳ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 — This is key for RAG-based agents. ↳ 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 — Is your AI learning and improving over time? If you're building or managing AI agents — bookmark this. Whether it's a support bot, GenAI assistant, or a multi-agent system — these are the metrics that will shape real-world success. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀? Let’s make this list even stronger — drop your thoughts 👇

Every task that comes to me is urgent and important. Sound familiar? This is a challenge many of us face daily. Early in my career, prioritization was relatively straightforward—my manager told me what to focus on. But as I grew, the game changed. Suddenly, I was managing a flood of requests, far more than I could handle, and the signals from others weren’t helpful. Everything was “important.” Everything was “urgent.” Often, it was both. To handle this effectively, I realized I needed to develop an internal prioritization compass. It wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. Here are 6 strategies to help you build your own: 1/ Be crystal clear on key goals Start by understanding your organization’s goals—at the company, department, and team levels. Attend organizational forums, departmental reviews, or leadership updates to stay informed. When in doubt, use your 1:1s with leaders to ask: What does success look like? 2/ Deeply understand KPIs Metrics guide decision-making, but not all metrics are equally valuable. Take the time to understand your team's or function's key performance indicators (KPIs). Know what they measure, what they mean, and how to assess their impact. 3/ Be assertive to protect priorities Not every task deserves your attention. Practice saying “no” or deferring requests that don’t align with key goals or metrics. Assertiveness is not about being inflexible—it’s about protecting your capacity to focus on what truly matters. 4/ Set and reset expectations Priorities change, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is working on misaligned tasks. Keep open communication with your manager and stakeholders about evolving priorities. When new demands arise, clarify and reset expectations. 5/ Use 1:1s to align with your manager Leverage your 1:1s as a strategic tool. Share your current priorities, validate them against your manager’s expectations, and discuss any conflicts or challenges. 6/ Clarify the escalation process When priorities conflict, don’t let disagreements linger. If you can’t agree quickly, escalate the issue to your manager. This avoids unnecessary churn, ensures trust remains intact, and keeps momentum focused on results. PS: You won’t always get it right—and that’s okay. Treat each misstep as an opportunity to refine your compass. What’s one tip you’ve used to prioritize when everything feels urgent? --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

Early in my career, I faced a moment many of us dread: A sudden, unexpected company reorganization. It seemed like overnight ➟ my role ➟ my team ➟ my daily tasks were all up in the air. I remember the anxiety. The flurry of rumors. The uncertainty. They clouded my thoughts about the future. But it was in this chaos that I found clarity. I realized that change, though daunting, also brings opportunities for growth. I wrote an article on this for Harvard Business Review. Here are 5 actions you can take when your professional life is unpredictable: 1. Embrace the Uncertainty Use periods of change as a catalyst for introspection. Reflect on what truly matters to you and your future. 2. Define Your Identity Think about who you need to be... Not just what you need to do. 3. Focus on the Process Establish and commit to positive career behaviors. It gives you a sense of control and leads to results. Examples: • Contribute in each team meeting • Expand your network every week  • Offer a strategic idea to leadership monthly • Take on a stretch opportunity once a quarter • Thank a coworker for something helpful every day 4. Cultivate Learning Agility Be ready to adapt. Stay curious. Embrace new ideas. This mindset isn't just to survive; it helps you thrive. 5. Ask for and Act on Feedback Regularly seek feedback. Take time to reflect on it. It's crucial to know where you're growing. And where you need to improve. Change can be scary. But it's also a chance to reset. To pivot. You may discover new paths you hadn't noticed before. Remember... It's not the strongest or most intelligent who survive. It's those who can best manage change. Lean into the uncertainty. Use it as a stepping stone. Build a career that's not just successful, but also aligned with who you truly are. Find this valuable? Repost ♻️ to share with others.  Thank you! P.S. What keeps you going when things get uncertain?

How I Track 10+ Projects at Once as a Program Manager at Amazon It’s a question I get a lot: How do you stay on top of everything without letting something slip? Different teams. Different timelines. Different deliverables. And a lot of noise. Here’s how I keep it all moving…and still make it home for dinner: 1/ I use one central tracking system for everything ↳ One doc, one view. ↳ If it’s not in the tracker, it doesn’t exist. ↳ I update it daily and keep it brutally simple. 2/ I start every week with a 15-minute self check-in ↳ What’s behind? What’s on track? What’s at risk? ↳ If I don’t do this Monday morning, the week runs me instead of the other way around. 3/ I color-code by priority and risk ↳ Green means I don’t need to touch it. ↳ Yellow means it needs a check-in. ↳ Red means I need to escalate or unblock. 4/ I follow up with context, not just reminders ↳ “Just checking in” turns into “We need this by Friday to keep X on track.” ↳ People respond to clarity, not pressure. 5/ I keep a running weekly update for leadership ↳ 3 bullets: what moved, what’s stuck, and what I need help with. ↳ It keeps everyone informed without another meeting. Managing 10+ projects isn’t about multitasking. It’s about systems, focus, and momentum. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know where to look…and what to move next. How do you track your priorities without getting overwhelmed?

We've spent years pushing for the concept of "better together", advocating for the importance of alignment across sales, product, and success. However, it's time to stop talking about "better together"; we all understand and get it. Let's do, "Together. Better." Especially today, when speed is essential and demanded in everything we do. Speed is seductive. It feels like progress. It looks like momentum. But without alignment, speed just creates motion sickness (OK, so maybe I'm still recovering from thinking about altitude sickness after a week in Peru). You get busy teams chasing goals that are aligned at the 30,000-foot level, but aren't aligned in where the work actually happens. There are unspoken and competing agendas. And fleeting and shallow wins that celebrate individual victories but not company wins. In the end, we're all left with mounting frustration that no one can quite name, but everyone feels. This is one of the hardest balancing acts in leadership: How do we move fast without breaking trust, clarity, or direction? How do we actually do "together, better?" The answer is not to slow down. It is to align more intentionally. More often. And more visibly. Alignment is not a kickoff slide or a mission statement. It is a discipline. A muscle. A shared drumbeat that keeps people running together, not just running. Because without alignment, speed scales confusion. With alignment, speed scales outcomes. My thoughts on three ways to lead with both speed and alignment: 🔹 Communicate decisions out loud. Assume nothing. Clarity compounds when leaders speak directly and often about what is changing and why. I've lost track of the number of times I thought something was communicated clearly, but realized I had been working on a concept for months and had only communicated it to the team for a few days. 🔹 Cascade purpose, not just tasks. When people understand the “why,” they can act faster and smarter without waiting for permission. Prioritize perspective over permission, which means sharing openly, broadly, and consistently enough context to create the perspective that lets people closest to the work make confident, bold, and faster decisions. 🔹 Check for drift. Build in rhythm to realign. Fast-moving teams need regular calibration. Without it, small gaps become big ones. At DISQO, our cross-departmental, recurring meetings are focused on ensuring continued alignment and providing colleagues with the opportunity to understand changes and collaborate on solving gaps together. Are you ready for "Together. Better?" #CreateTheFuture #LeadershipInAction #StrategicAlignment #HighVelocityTeams #LeadWithClarity #ExecutionExcellence #FutureOfLeadership #TeamPerformance #GTMLeadership #CultureOfExecution #ScaleWithPurpose #CustomerSuccessLeadership

In the fast-paced world of management, where decisions are made in the blink of an eye and priorities shift constantly, asking for what you need can sometimes feel daunting. Recently, I found myself in a situation that many managers and aspiring leaders might find familiar. I had to follow up with a colleague about a project. This person is incredibly busy, juggling multiple responsibilities, and I hesitated to reach out. However, I needed to confirm details to plan my work for the upcoming months effectively. As managers, we often feel the pressure to have all the answers. There's an unspoken expectation that we should be able to figure things out on our own. This mindset can make asking for clarity seem like a sign of weakness. But let's flip the script: asking for clarity is not a weakness; it's a strength. It's a tool for efficiency and effectiveness. Why does it matter? - Efficiency Boost: When you ask for clarity, you streamline processes. You ensure that everyone is on the same page, reducing the chances of miscommunication and rework. - Time Management: By seeking clarity, you save time—not just for yourself but for your entire team. It prevents unnecessary back-and-forth and allows you to focus on what truly matters. - Enhanced Team Dynamics: Clarity fosters better interaction within teams. When everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, collaboration becomes seamless. It's important to acknowledge that some might view the act of asking for clarity as a weakness. However, the ability to seek clarity is a hallmark of effective leadership. It demonstrates a commitment to understanding and improving processes, which ultimately benefits the entire organization. - Be Specific: When asking for clarity, be specific about what you need. This helps the other person provide the information you require without unnecessary back-and-forth. - Provide Context: Explain why you need the information. This not only helps the other person understand your request but also highlights the importance of their input. - Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable asking questions. This creates a culture of transparency and continuous improvement. To become a more effective manager, embrace the power of clarity. Here are some steps you can take: - Model the Behavior: Demonstrate the importance of clarity by consistently seeking it yourself. Your team will follow your lead. - Encourage Questions: Create a safe space for your team to ask questions. This not only improves understanding but also fosters innovation. - Provide Feedback:When team members seek clarity, provide constructive feedback. This reinforces the value of their efforts and encourages continuous learning. In the world of management, clarity is a powerful ally. It enhances efficiency, improves team dynamics, and ultimately leads to better outcomes.

Building product needs some structure - and we just updated ours 🔥 Let's take a look at our secret sauce to moving fast without breaking things (well, not too often anyway! 😉). Defining our roadmap pipeline had a simple aim: speed up our product and engineering efforts 🏎️ rather than adding admin work. Essentially, our framework should help us ... 1⃣ work on the right things (validation) 2⃣ at the right time (prioritization) 3⃣ with the right people (ownership) So how does it work? 🎯 Every idea starts as a spark in our backlog, and like any good story, not all make it to the final chapter. We use focused discovery to collect insights from users and assess each idea on its impact and complexity, bravely discarding most of them. 🏗️ Relevant ideas are prioritized and worked on in design and engineering. None of these tasks should take more than 1-2 days of work. Communication happens (mostly) asynchronous on Slack/Linear. The result? We're seeing a (pretty) smooth flow where ideas come to life with a clear trail of why's and how's, and great alignment on the work that needs to be done across the team ✅ A few rules are needed to make this work ... 1⃣ Ownership: Every ticket has an owner, ensuring personal accountability and momentum. 2⃣ Partitioning: No ticket takes more than 1-2 days of work. Bigger tasks? They become projects. 3⃣ Collective brainstorming: Everyone on the team actively contributes ideas and suggestions to the backlog (and only there). 4️⃣ Regular assessments: Weekly planning sessions keep us context-rich and prioritize the most relevant tasks, assigning resources as needed. 5️⃣ Adapting: The roadmap pipeline is here to help us, not to govern us. We still freestyle as priorities shift 🏄 🔥 If you're stoked about crafting products at light speed, let's chat. Minoa might just be the place for you to shine. 🌟 #ProductDevelopment #saas #startup

Leaders waste more energy on divided focus than any other activity. I learned this the hard way in the SEAL Teams. During a training evolution, I was juggling radio communications, coordinating multiple teams, and making split-second calls. And I wasn’t doing any of it well. My commanding officer pulled me aside: "Mac, you're everywhere and nowhere. Focus or you'll miss the critical moment." He was right. I was spread so thin I couldn't see the patterns emerging right in front of me. This isn't just a military problem. I see it daily with my executive clients: → Scanning emails during strategy discussions → Mentally rehearsing a presentation while their team shares crucial updates → Attention bouncing between five urgent problems, solving none completely The cost isn't just productivity. Your leadership presence evaporates. Your team's trust erodes. In high-performance environments, attention isn't just a resource. It's your competitive advantage. When you focus fully: → You notice micro-expressions that signal team tension → You spot connections between seemingly unrelated data points → You make decisions from clarity rather than reaction Most leaders know this. Few practice it consistently. The difference isn't knowledge, it's discipline. The solution isn't complicated: 1. Practice intentional monotasking. Whatever deserves your attention deserves your FULL attention. 2. Create attention boundaries. Block time for deep work with zero notifications. 3. Build a daily mindfulness practice. Even 5 minutes trains your focus muscle. 4. Batch-process inputs. Schedule specific times for email and updates rather than letting them hijack your entire day. In my 17+ years as a SEAL, the leaders I trusted most weren't just the smartest or toughest. They were the ones who could maintain complete presence amidst chaos. They showed up fully. Their attention wasn't divided. Their focus created a gravity that pulled teams together. What deserves your full attention today? ——— Follow me (Jon Macaskill ) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

A few days ago I presented to a room full of Berkadia’s best—elite brokers, top producers, industry leaders. Post-COVID, deals flowed. Then came the last two years. Interest rates surged. The open runway became a battlefield. Real estate moves fast in both directions. Momentum is easy when the market cooperates. When it shifts? Only the relentless survive. Friction slows most people down. The best use it as fuel. Ernest Katai shared this powerful perspective: 211 vs. 212 Degrees: The Smallest Difference That Changes Everything At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And boiling water powers a train. 1 degree. That’s the difference. Most stop at 211. They do what’s required. They show up, they work, they wait. But the elite? They push to 212. They refine, adapt, and execute at a level most never will. Process Over Outcome: From Good to Great Those who thrive in volatility aren’t necessarily the most experienced. They understand success isn’t an event—it’s a process. 1.⁠ ⁠Process first, then prize. Olympians don’t train for gold. They train for precision, repetition, and consistency. Don’t chase the deal—master the systems that make deals inevitable. 2.⁠ ⁠Volatility is an opportunity. Some wait for stability. The best build in uncertainty—spotting patterns, adapting, & taking action. 3.⁠ ⁠Energy is everything. If you don’t have energy, you don’t have leverage. Energy is something you generate.   Sleep-The greatest performance enhancer. Recovery fuels execution.   Eat-Fuel your body like you expect to win.   Move-Motion creates momentum. Stagnation kills success.   Think-Mindset is everything. Are you reacting or leading? 5 points to take into the weekend 1.⁠ ⁠One Move That Matters-What’s one high-impact action you’ve been avoiding? Not the busy work. The real work. Do it today. 2.⁠ ⁠Energy Audit – Where is your energy leaking? Track your sleep, food, movement, and mindset for 48 hours. Fix one weak spot. 3.⁠ ⁠Adaptation Checkpoint – What has changed in your industry, business, or personal growth in the last six months? Have you evolved, or are you still playing last year’s game? 4.⁠ ⁠Friction as Fuel – Where are you feeling the most resistance? Instead of avoiding it, lean in. What lesson is hidden in the discomfort? 5.⁠ ⁠Who You’re Becoming – The next 90 days will define your trajectory. Who do you need to become to hit that next level? Write it down. Then act accordingly. One of my favorite podcasts—Founders Podcast by David Senra. Michael Jordan’s mindset stood out: “The mind will play tricks on you, the mind was telling you that you couldn't go any further, the mind will tell you how much it hurt, the mind was telling you these things to keep you from reaching your goal...but you have to see past that. Turn it off to get where you want to be.” “Work ethic ELIMINATES fear.” So the real question is: What’s your extra degree? #Leadership #Performance #RealEstate #Broker #Grit #Mindset

🚨 Uncertainty is near an all-time high 🚨 Since 1985, the U.S. Federal Reserve has tracked an uncertainty index—and it's now skyrocketing, fast approaching its pandemic-era peak. But you can THRIVE in these conditions. Here are 8 ways to do it: 🔹 1. Uncertainty Matrix – Map out what’s certainly known, certainly unknown, unevenly recognized in your organization, and critical blind spots. 🔹 2. Scenarios – Develop a few truly distinct scenarios (not just based on your company’s outcomes, but on market shifts). What actions can you take today to thrive in each future scenario? 🔹 3. Portfolio Plan – Assess the risk level, risk type, and maturity of your investments. Think of it as a diversified portfolio—how will it hold up in different market conditions? 🔹 4. Platforms vs. Products – Shift from rigid products to flexible platforms. Netflix, for example, is a platform that can evolve with the market—traditional broadcast networks do not. 🔹 5. Capture New Markets – Disruptive events create major opportunities. Fintech boomed after the financial crisis—where’s your industry’s next opening? Consider all dimensions: goods companies can grow into non-tariffed services, you can expand geographically, and more. 🔹 6. Agile Planning – Static, annual strategic plans don’t work during high uncertainty. Instead, focus on dynamic strategies that separate fixed priorities from adaptable tactics. 🔹 7. Reduce Inter-Dependencies – Create modular, flexible value propositions that can have both more agility and lower costs. 🔹 8. Put Customers First – Your customers’ Jobs to be Done remain constant—use them as your North Star for strategy, cost reduction, and option development. 📚 Want to go deeper? Our materials on FutureCasting and the book Rogue Waves address approaches 1 – 4, our book Capturing New Markets tackles point 5, our book The Innovative Leader focuses on point 6, and our books Costovation and Jobs to be Done concentrate on points 7 and 8. Dig into them or get in touch for a discussion. Uncertainty = Opportunity. Seize it!! 🚀 #Leadership #Strategy #Innovation #JobsToBeDone #Growth #Agility