A leader truly in command of the situation has the strength, confidence and composure to say if a major initiative will take three years… and that there won’t be tangible signs of progress for, say, 12 to 15 months.

In contrast, a less self-assured individual might “feel” pressured to show quick results. S/he might give the impression that change will come faster than is realistic. This invariably results in disappointed stakeholders and an erosion in the leader’s reputation.

The biggest projects often take a great deal of time. For example, you can’t change the culture of a large organization in six months. You can’t integrate the back offices of three large acquisitions in a year.

Be realistic. Map it out. Leverage others who have been down this path before. Help others understand what to expect.

Setting correct expectations is how you demonstrate your command of a complex situation. When you do it well at the beginning, confidence in you grows as reality proves that your assessment was on target.