Project Failure Files: When Shiny New Initiatives Shift Priorities

In Episode 55 of the Project Failure Files weekly webcast, our focus was “Leadership No Longer Cares,” in which Sharon and I dive into a familiar leadership problem: the “hot project” syndrome that pulls attention toward shiny, high-profile initiatives while starving operational work of recognition. We argue that inconsistent rewards and shifting priorities create mixed signals—celebrating heroics and novelty while overlooking the steady, behind-the-scenes consistency that keeps the business running. The core message: leaders must balance recognition so that operational excellence is valued alongside splashy wins.

Sharon and I outline the cultural and delivery fallout when that balance is missing: organizational “ADHD,” siloing, short-termism, eroding trust, stalled momentum, and a two-tier workforce where consistent performers burn out and disengaged staff coast. Productivity drops, morale sinks, and legacy projects quietly decay because there’s no plan—or air cover—for long-term maintenance and follow-through.

To counter this, we recommend clear, cascaded objectives tied to a few strategic pillars, regular leader–team check-ins, explicit success metrics (OKRs/KPIs, “definition of done”), and a durable recognition program that celebrates both front-stage and back-office wins. Individuals are urged to “own their career” by showing steady progress, asking about priority changes, and aligning work to stated goals. Leaders should prune misalignment, invest in cross-team relationships, and pair every new initiative with a long-term support plan to protect ROI.

Enjoy the episode!

Be sure to tune in next Monday, September 8th at 9am Pacific for a program update on our weekly series. Hope you can join us on our NEW YouTube channel (please subscribe!), or find us on LinkedIn.