Naomi Gleit, VP of Growth, helped multiple teams break free from endless debates by enforcing a structured decision-making process. She required team members to capture their viewpoints on a spreadsheet, which highlighted both agreements and disagreements. This method revealed that while teams often believed they were aligned, the real misalignment lay in the details. By forcing clarity, Gleit showed that recognizing the differences was essential for effective collaboration. The concept of “messy yeses” emerged as a significant issue. These vague commitments, such as promises without milestones or resources, create confusion and friction down the line. The author recounts experiences at PayPal where these ambiguous agreements led to costly misunderstandings and inefficiencies. Instead of addressing limitations directly, teams often chose comfort over clarity, which resulted in frustration and wasted effort. To drive extreme clarity, the article outlines five practical strategies: document viewpoints beforehand, prioritize effectively through force ranking, take live notes during discussions, restate decisions before concluding meetings, and maintain a running alignment document. These steps help ensure that decisions are clear and understood by everyone involved. Clear communication respects team members and fosters true alignment, avoiding the pitfalls of strategic ambiguity.