The Space Between Decisions

Jennifer Hoege
12 minutes ago
3 min read

When Waiting Feels Like Pressure

There’s a particular kind of tension that lives in the space between making a decision and seeing its consequences. You’ve done the work: gathered information, weighed options, aligned the team - or perhaps you’re still navigating your own internal dialog. The direction may be clear, the choice may be made, and yet you wait.

This pause between decision and action, this stillness where nothing visibly moves, is one of the most overlooked and profoundly impactful moments in leadership. For many leaders and organizations, that waiting feels heavy. It can feel like pressure, sometimes heavier than the decision itself.

Why the waiting phase can feel more intense than the decision

We often imagine decision-making as the moment of choice. But much of the real emotional and strategic work happens afterward. Once a decision is made, the space that follows carries weight: stakeholders anticipate change, expectations form, and internal narratives shift. This is where pressure accumulates.

What makes this phase challenging:

Rising expectations: Teams and systems begin preparing for what’s next. Anticipation can feel like a load.
Growing ambiguity: Without visible progress, uncertainty creeps in: “Are we still moving forward?”
Heightened accountability: Leaders feel responsible not only for the decision but for everything that follows.
Energy drain: Momentum stalls, and the work becomes holding the tension of “not yet.”
Signaling risk: A lack of movement can be misread as hesitation or doubt, impacting confidence.

Reframing the pause: from pressure to productive

This in-between space is not simply waiting. It’s a strategic phase of leadership. Leadership happens not just in the moment of decision, but in how we hold and guide this transition.

You may be in this phase if:

The direction is clear, but the “go” signal is delayed.
Stakeholders are seeking cues or filling the silence with assumptions.
You feel “on hold,” planning but not yet acting.
Tension builds the longer the pause continues.

At Hoege Consulting & Coaching, we see this phase as intentional and constructive – not wasted time, but strategic time.

How to use the waiting phase effectively

Clarify the transition: Explain what the decision means: for roles, processes, culture, and expectations. Clarity reduces invisible pressure.
Set interim milestones: Turn the open space into a sequence of steps: check-ins, pilot phases, preparation activities – so momentum doesn’t stall.
Communicate with transparency: Brief updates prevent speculation and maintain alignment.
Reflect and monitor: Validate assumptions, assess readiness, and watch for early signals. The pause becomes a vantage point, not a stall.
Maintain momentum: Use this time to build readiness: capability-building, scenario planning, and resource alignment ensure you are poised to move when the moment arrives.

Why this matters for organizations in transformation

In times of leadership change, cultural shifts, integration, or restructuring (areas in which Hoege Consulting & Coaching specializes) the space between decision and full implementation carries the highest risk:

People may revert to old patterns if direction is unclear.
Engagement and momentum can decline.
A decision may lose credibility if progress isn’t visible.

When leaders intentionally guide the waiting phase, they:

Preserve and build momentum rather than erode it.
Strengthen trust and alignment.
Reduce the hidden costs of uncertainty and speculation.
Ensure execution is sharper, smoother, and more integrated.

Final thoughts

Waiting doesn’t have to feel like pressure. It can feel like purpose.

The key is shifting the narrative from “We can’t move yet” to “We’re preparing to move, and this preparation is strategic”. When you lead the space between decision and action with intention, you reinforce credibility, sharpen readiness, and set the stage for powerful follow-through.

If you’re in that in-between phase, if you’ve made the call but feel the weight of what comes next, we invite you to reach out. At Hoege Consulting & Coaching, we help leaders turn this space into a launchpad. Let’s explore how you can bridge intention and action with clarity and confidence.