Opinion: Why great leaders start before they feel prepared

Andrea Battaglia

If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll miss the moment. Ready isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision.

I’ve seen it in business and I’ve seen it in life: Leaders who keep refining the plan, polishing the presentation or waiting for the perfect conditions often find the opportunity has passed. They’ve waited too long.

The truth? You’ll never feel fully prepared for the most important growth moments in your career or in your life. You need to decide to move forward anyway.

Here’s what I’ve learned – from my own leadership journey and from coaching others – about starting before you feel ready.

Decide, then start
Some of my best professional decisions began as partially formed ideas. I didn’t have the full plan (and I love, love, love plans), didn’t have all the approvals and didn’t know every answer. But I had enough vision to see the potential – and I took the first step.

In leadership, momentum matters. Get the conversation started. Build the first version. Test the idea before it’s perfect.

Here’s what I know: You’ll learn faster and gain buy-in sooner when others can see it in motion.

Let fear fuel you
I’ve stepped into projects, roles and made decisions before I had every skill in place. Each experience stretched me in ways I couldn’t have imagined and helped me rise to the occasion.

Fear is often a sign that you’re on the edge of growth. Instead of letting it stall you, let it fuel you. Whether you’re a new professional or a seasoned leader, trust that you’ll learn along the way – because you will.

The same is true for your team: Stretch opportunities build capability, confidence and commitment.

Lead through the mess
Every meaningful initiative gets messy: Timelines shift, priorities collide and not every step will feel like progress.

Strong leaders don’t wait for perfect clarity before they begin – they start with what they know, adapt in real time and keep moving forward. Mess isn’t failure; it’s where progress and real change begin.

How to get started
These shifts aren’t complicated, but they will stretch you – and that’s the point. And the truth is, it won’t feel natural at first, but they are doable, valuable, and you can start today. Here’s how:

• Share one idea at your next meeting before it feels polished.

• Accept one invitation or opportunity this week that makes you a little nervous.

• Pick one task you’ve been waiting to start and work on it for just 15 minutes today.

You won’t always feel ready, but you can make the decision to lead, even in uncertainty. What I’ve learned in my years of leadership is that when I moved forward, progress and clarity both continued to reveal themselves – and we got it done because I had the courage and clarity to start. 

Leaders aren’t remembered for waiting until conditions are perfect. They’re remembered for moving first, learning fast and creating momentum that carries the team farther.

Andrea Battaglia is the chief excellence officer at Abacus in Springfield. She can be reached at abattaglia@abacuspro.com.