How do you cut through the noise to get to what truly matters?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman dives into this question with Ann Latham, the mind behind The Power of Clarity and The Disconnect Principle. Ann's journey to clarity began when she asked former bosses and colleagues a surprising question: What do I do best? The answer was clear—she had an uncanny ability to sift through information, distill its essence, and align teams with actionable plans. So began her consulting journey and the creation of Uncommon Clarity.

Ann quickly realized that “clarity” could be a hard sell—it’s an abstract concept people often overlook. To bridge this gap, she started showing how clarity impacts concrete outcomes: higher productivity, greater confidence, fewer mistakes, and optimized potential. Through strategic planning, process improvement, and team alignment, she began weaving clarity into the DNA of organizations.

As her consulting grew, so did her focus on teaching others to achieve clarity themselves. She moved beyond providing solutions, empowering her clients to own the process. Now, as a writer and speaker, Ann is on a mission to make clarity a universal skill, publishing books and giving TED Talks to illuminate this essential but elusive concept. Her insights aren’t just techniques; they’re catalysts for meaningful change in any organization.


Three Key Takeaways:

• Clarity Drives Results: Ann emphasizes that clarity isn't just a buzzword—it's a strategic asset that boosts productivity, confidence, and team effectiveness.

• Clarity as a Teachable Skill: Beyond solving problems for clients, Ann has developed ways to teach organizations how to cultivate clarity themselves, making it a sustainable part of their culture.

• Practical Clarity Spectrum: To tackle the vagueness around clarity, Ann developed a spectrum that defines specific elements needed to reach clear, actionable outcomes, making it easier for teams to get aligned and achieve their goals.

Peter Winick, the CEO and Founder of Thought Leadership Leverage, like Ann, often helps his clients find clarity in their work. Check out this article by Peter on Clarity for Priorities.