The hidden leadership threat draining workplace productivity
The hidden leadership threat draining workplace productivity
Forbes; by Julian Hayes II; 7/27/25
If speed is a premium currency in modern business, friction is the hidden tax. It doesn't appear on your balance sheet or get highlighted on the org chart. Yet, it compounds daily through missed deadlines, disengaged employees, decision bottlenecks, various leadership issues, and a tech stack that overwhelms more than it empowers. ... Perhaps the most revealing (and to some surprising) insight: executives reported the highest levels of friction. The very individuals tasked with solving complexity are often the most affected by it. This discovery underscores a deeper truth: friction isn't merely an operational issue. It's also a leadership issue. ... [The] following four categories of friction offer a diagnostic window into the health of an organization's leadership infrastructure. ...