Welcome The Clarity Column

Most teams don’t struggle because they lack tools.

They struggle because their systems are unclear.

Smartsheet is powerful. But without intention, it quickly turns into a patchwork of sheets, dashboards, and automations that technically work; yet somehow make everything harder.

That’s where clarity breaks down.

The Clarity Column exists to fix that.

Why This Column Exists

I work with teams every day who are doing their best inside systems that weren’t designed to scale.

What I see most often:

• Tools layered on top of other tools

• Dashboards that don’t match how work actually happens

• Automations that fire, but don’t reduce effort

• Teams compensating for broken systems with manual work

This column isn’t about features, hacks, or “tips and tricks.”

It’s about clear systems:

• Systems people can trust

• Systems that reduce noise instead of adding to it

• Systems that support the humans doing the work

What You’ll Find in The Clarity Column

This is a practical, opinionated space.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

• How to think about Smartsheet as a system, not just a tool

• Common mistakes teams make as they scale

• When to clean up vs. rebuild vs. start fresh

• How automation should actually reduce workload

• What clarity looks like at different stages of growth

Sometimes that will mean education.

Sometimes it will mean calling out what’s not working.

Always, it will mean grounding recommendations in real-world use.

What You Won’t Find Here

To set expectations clearly:

• No fluff

• No hype

• No “do more with less” guilt

• No content written just to sell

If something can’t be explained clearly, it probably isn’t designed clearly. And, I won’t pretend otherwise.

Who This Column Is For

The Clarity Column is for:

• Operations leaders managing growing complexity

• Project teams stretched across too many tools

• Executives who need visibility without micromanagement

• Teams who know their system could work better, but aren’t sure where to start

If you’re looking for calm, clarity, and systems that make sense — you’re in the right place.

A Final Note

Clarity isn’t about perfection.

It’s about alignment.

When your systems reflect how your team actually works, everything gets easier:

• Decisions

• Visibility

• Accountability

• Scale

That’s what this column is here to support.

Welcome to The Clarity Column.