In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor breaks down why so many leadership teams keep setting priorities that never quite land.

Drawing on hundreds of leadership sessions, Debra explains that priorities usually fail not because teams are lazy or uncommitted, but because the system is working against them. Too many priorities, vague outcomes, “forever” initiatives, and reliance on external factors quietly erode confidence, trust, and momentum.

Debra unpacks what strong teams do differently. They limit priorities to three to seven clear, finishable goals per quarter. They write SMART priorities, protect focus time, assume interruptions will happen, and use weekly check-ins to realign rather than panic. She also tackles common leadership traps like founders changing direction mid-quarter, teams chasing perfection instead of progress, and the hidden cost of never finishing anything.

This episode is a practical reset for leadership teams who want fewer priorities, cleaner execution, and the confidence that comes from actually finishing what they start.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:        
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►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: ⁠debra@businessaction.com.au ⁠

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/

►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/

Episode 258 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction

00:35 – Why Priorities Fail in Businesses

01:36 – Patterns of Priority Failure

02:39 – Clarity and Prioritisation

03:47 – Strategies for Effective Prioritisation

04:54 – Handling Forever Priorities and External Dependencies

07:32 – Managing Interruptions and Trade-offs

09:31 – Audience Questions and Answers

15:25 – Weekly Meetings and Balancing Flexibility with Accountability