I’ve come to realize what the biggest threat to an agency is, and it comes down to one word: speculation.
Speculation arises when agency owners, having been burned by vendors or team members in the past, lose trust that the work being done serves their best interests. It’s a toxic loop that builds when an agency lacks a clearly defined mission and vision—a higher purpose to anchor the entire team. Without that cultural foundation, doubt creeps in.
How Speculation Impacts Action
Here’s how speculation works:
When an agency owner begins to speculate, action stalls. Every decision becomes a question, every task a hypothetical situation that hinges on the belief that something will inevitably go wrong. They assume tasks won’t meet their standards, won’t be completed by the right person, or won’t happen on time.
Speculation creates a self-fulfilling cycle: the expectation that things will go wrong ensures that they do. And here’s the hard truth: when you expect failure, you’re perpetuating a reality where failure thrives.
Expectations: The Root Cause and the Solution
At its core, speculation is a mismanagement of expectations. It happens when agency owners, consciously or unconsciously, project doubt and distrust onto their teams. And while it might seem harmless to second-guess a process or micromanage a detail, these small acts of mistrust ripple out, infecting the culture and halting momentum.
But there’s good news. If speculation is the issue holding your agency back, the solution lies in reframing your expectations. When you start to imagine that every team member executes their tasks perfectly and every process flows seamlessly, you shift your mindset from one of doubt to one of trust.
This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a leadership practice. When you trust your team, you create an environment where clarity and confidence flourish. Problems that seemed insurmountable start resolving themselves because the culture is no longer rooted in fear but in belief and alignment.
A Simple Self-Assessment
If you’re wondering whether speculation might be holding your agency back, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do I regularly find myself questioning whether tasks are being done correctly, even when I’ve delegated them?
- Do I hesitate to take action because I’m anticipating something will go wrong?
- Do I struggle to trust that my team has the agency’s best interests at heart?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, speculation may be sabotaging your agency’s growth.
The Path Forward
Breaking free from the cycle of speculation requires a mindset shift—a sort of spiritual awakening in your leadership approach. Instead of operating from a place of doubt, envision what success looks like when everyone performs at their best. Trust your team. Communicate openly. Build a culture where your higher purpose is clear, and watch how conversations and solutions emerge naturally.
When you combine this mindset with an understanding of how your brain filters information, you can consciously redirect your focus toward alignment and opportunity. This is how agencies scale—not through constant oversight, but through trust, aligned expectations, and an intentional focus on positive outcomes.
Ready to Break the Cycle?
At ResonateGrow.com, we provide tools and insights to help agency owners build trust, clarity, and alignment within their teams. If speculation has been holding you back, consider reaching out. Sometimes, a single conversation can shift your mindset and help your agency unlock its full potential.
For a deeper dive into the science behind how expectations shape reality—and the role of the reticular activating system (RAS) in filtering what you see—check out the companion post on BillFow.com.
We’re just scratching the surface at exploring how we can support your journey toward growth and alignment. Check out our agency tools designed to simplify agency management at resonategrow.com/marketplace, or tune into our upcoming podcast at https://resonategrow.com/subscribe-to-podcast/.