Opening Note
Happy Friday, and Welcome Back to The Clarity Memo.
Last time, we talked about Visibility is not Vanity. This week, we’re talking about clarity and why I believe clarity is a form of kindness.
There is a difference between saying something and actually communicating it.
I’ve learned that from both sides. As a leader, I’ve given direction I thought was clear, only to realize it didn’t land the way I intended. I’ve also been on the receiving end of unclear expectations, trying to figure out what someone actually wanted from me.
And if I’m being truthful, being direct has not always come naturally to me. But trying to spare someone’s feelings can sometimes create more confusion than the truth would have.
People shouldn’t have to guess their way toward your expectations.
Let’s get into it.
Honey, did you get the memo?
The Memo
Ideas to help you lead with clarity.
Clarity is kindness.
One of the responsibilities of leadership is making sure people understand where they are going. That means communicating the vision, but it also means communicating the pieces and steps required to actually get there.
Too often, leaders assume people know more than they do.
You have been in the role for 10 years. You understand the systems. You know the history. You know the culture, the personalities, the acronyms, and the unwritten rules.
The person who just arrived does not.
Leadership cannot be, “I figured it out, so you should too.” If we want people to succeed, we have to give them enough information to do so. I have also learned that clarity is not just about what I say. It is about what the other person understands. There have been times when I communicated a task and believed I had been perfectly clear, only to learn later that what I said did not land well with that person’s communication style.
That challenged me.
Because it is easy as a leader to say, “But I told you.”
The better question is: Did I communicate it in a way that gave you what you needed to be successful?
That does not mean leaders have to overexplain every decision or eliminate personal responsibility. People still have a responsibility to ask questions, learn, and do the work.
But leadership requires more than assigning tasks.
People need to understand the larger vision, where their work fits, what success looks like, and what happens next.
And sometimes clarity requires a conversation we would rather avoid.
I have not always been comfortable with that. Even now, I can go back and forth about how direct I should be because I do not want to unnecessarily hurt someone’s feelings.
But I have learned that trying to spare someone’s feelings can create a much bigger mess later.
Unspoken expectations become frustration.
Vague instructions become mistakes.
Avoided conversations become bigger conversations.
And “they should know” becomes resentment when, in reality, no one ever clearly told them.
Clarity does not require cruelty. You can be thoughtful about how you communicate while still being honest about what needs to be said. Before you walk away from the next conversation, assignment, or decision, ask yourself:
Does this person understand the goal, not just the task?
Have I explained what success looks like?
Am I assuming they know something I have never actually communicated?
Did I communicate in a way they can understand?
Is there something I am avoiding saying because I am uncomfortable saying it?
Do we both understand what happens next?
This week, pay attention to where people around you are being forced to guess. Then ask yourself whether the problem is really their performance, or whether there is an opportunity for you to lead with greater clarity.
Being clear does not make you unkind. Sometimes, clarity is the kindest thing you can give someone.
That is the work.
MEMO MOMENT
It is not enough to say, “but I told you.” Clarity is making sure what you communicated was understood.
Free Resource
The Clear Communication Guide™
This week’s free resource will help you or someone you know communicate expectations, responsibilities, and next steps more clearly.
Use it when delegating, onboarding, giving feedback, or preparing for an important conversation. The goal is simple: move from “I know what I meant” to “I made sure they understood.”
Use the guide to check five things:
The Outcome: What needs to happen?
The Why: Why does it matter?
The Expectation: What does success look like?
The Context: What do they need to know?
The Check: Are we clear on what happens next?
Community Spotlight
Celebrating those who make a difference.
About Liberty Partnerships Program
The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) at SUNY Orange serves students and families throughout the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, helping middle and high school students prepare for high school graduation, higher education, and the workforce.
Created by the New York State Education Department in 1988 to help reduce the state's high school dropout rate, Liberty Partnerships has grown into a network of 47 partnerships serving approximately 15,000 students across New York State. More than 90% of Liberty Partnerships Program students complete high school.
At SUNY Orange, the program brings together the College, Newburgh Enlarged City School District, and Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh to provide students with academic, career, social-emotional, and enrichment support.
This Week’s Spotlight
What stood out to me about Liberty Partnerships is how much happens beyond traditional academic support.
Students gain exposure to college, careers, mentoring, leadership development, creative arts, STEM, community service, and experiences designed to expand what they see as possible beyond the classroom.
Why They're in the Spotlight
Preparing young people for their futures requires more than helping them earn a diploma.
Students need exposure, mentors, confidence, and opportunities to experience spaces they may not otherwise have access to. Liberty Partnerships helps create those opportunities while connecting students to the people and resources around them.
Community Opportunity
Liberty Partnerships is expanding community partnerships and real-world experiences for students.
Local professionals, businesses, colleges, and organizations can help by sharing their careers, providing mentorship, hosting experiences, or introducing students to their industries.
Sometimes opening a door is the first step in helping a young person imagine themselves walking through it.
Learn more: SUNY Orange Liberty Partnerships Program
Future Community Spotlights
Know an organization making a difference?
Every week, The Clarity Memo highlights organizations creating meaningful impact throughout our communities. I'd love to feature them in a future issue of The Clarity Memo.
Nominate an organization → CLICK HERE
The Funding Corner
Funding opportunities worth exploring this week.
This week’s opportunities include funding for women founders, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations. As always, review eligibility carefully before applying and only pursue opportunities that align with your mission, capacity, and goals.
Featured Grant of the Week
Stanley 1913 Creators Fund
The Stanley 1913 Creators Fund invests in emerging leaders with bold ideas for stronger communities. Since 2023, the fund has supported 23 early-stage nonprofits across eight countries, providing $50,000 in unrestricted funding to help leaders create, build, and turn big ideas into meaningful change.
Funding Amount: $50,000 in unrestricted funding
Deadline: Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Why It Matters: $50,000 in unrestricted funding gives nonprofit leaders flexibility to invest where their organizations need it most, rather than limiting funding to a specific program or expense.
1. Hey Helen Grant
Who Should Apply: U.S.-based women entrepreneurs with 100% women-owned, mission-driven, for-profit businesses generating less than $1 million in annual revenue.
Funding Amount: $10,000 unrestricted grant
Deadline: August 30, 2026
Why It Matters: This is flexible capital that can be used based on the needs of the business, giving founders more freedom to invest in growth, operations, or other priorities.
2. Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant, Volume III
Who Should Apply: Entrepreneurs with currently operating businesses who are active subscribers to the Her Agenda newsletter.
Funding Amount: $5,000
Deadline: September 18, 2026
Why It Matters: The grant is open across industries and business stages, making it more accessible than opportunities restricted to a specific sector.
3. Secretsos™ Small Business Grant
Who Should Apply: Eligible U.S. small-business owners, with particular eligibility pathways for women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and other qualifying businesses.
Funding Amount: $2,500
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Why It Matters: This quarterly opportunity is designed to provide accessible capital to small-business owners who may have difficulty accessing traditional financing.
Know a Funding Opportunity?
Have a grant, scholarship, fellowship, or funding opportunity others should know about?
Reply and share it with The Clarity Memo community.
Need help finding the right funding opportunity?
Not sure where to start, whether you are grant-ready, or whether a specific opportunity is a good fit? Let’s talk. Book a complimentary 15-minute Grant Question Call and get clarity on your next funding opportunity.
Ask ASH
Real questions. Practical answers.
This Week’s Ask:
How do I give someone feedback without hurting their feelings?
The goal of feedback is not to make someone feel bad. It is to give them information they can actually use. Start with what happened, not what you assume about the person.
Instead of:
“You’re not paying attention to details.”
Try:
“There were several errors in the final document. Let’s walk through what happened and what needs to change going forward.”
One attacks the person. The other addresses the work and creates a path forward. Being kind does not require you to avoid the issue, soften the message until it loses its meaning, or pretend something is okay when it is not. You can be clear about what needs to change while still being thoughtful about how you communicate it.
Remember: Feedback should leave someone with greater clarity, not greater confusion.
Have a question? Reply to this email.
Tool of the Week + AI With Clarity
One tool and one prompt to help you communicate your value and show up with greater intention.
Loom
Why I Like It
Sometimes an email or written set of instructions is not the clearest way to communicate.
Loom allows you to record your screen while talking through a task, process, document, or project. Instead of writing three paragraphs explaining where to click or what something should look like, you can show someone while you explain it.
Why It Matters
One communication style does not work for everyone. Some people process written instructions well. Others benefit from seeing the process demonstrated while hearing the explanation. Good leadership is not about repeating the same instructions louder. Sometimes clarity means changing how you communicate the information.
AI With Clarity: Visibility Post Prompt
This prompt helps you share your work clearly without sounding boastful or overly promotional. Use it to turn one accomplishment, result, or lesson into a thoughtful post that communicates your value.
Currently Focused On
Behind-the-scenes work and what’s ahead.
✨ Publishing Issue No. 008 of The Clarity Memo .
✨ Settling into the fall semester as a college English instructor at Dutchess Community College and exploring how AI can strengthen, rather than replace, critical thinking and writing in higher education.
✨ Onboarding a new nonprofit consulting client and getting clear on priorities, goals, and where I can add the most value.
✨Continuing to grow The Hayles Company and looking to partner with organizations that need support.
Behind the scenes, I am also developing new resources and tools for The Clarity Memo that readers can actually put to work. There is a lot moving at once, but my focus is making sure the work in front of me connects to the larger vision. Growth is exciting, but I am also learning that filling the calendar is not the goal. Moving the right work forward is.
Closing Thought
“People should not have to guess their way toward your expectations.”
Clarity is not about having the perfect words or explaining every detail. It is about making sure people understand the vision, what is expected of them, and what happens next.
If you have made it this far ask yourself:
Where am I assuming someone already knows what I mean?
What expectation have I never clearly communicated?
Is there a conversation I am avoiding because being direct feels uncomfortable?
Am I communicating in a way that works for me, or in a way the other person can actually understand?
You can be direct without being cruel. You can hold people accountable without leaving them to figure everything out alone.
Clarity is kindness. Until next week,
Anquinette S. Hayles
Founder, The Clarity Memo
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