Many leaders make the same mistake: when there’s a breakdown in one area, they try to fix it right there. But the real leverage usually sits in an adjacent quadrant. That’s why the PSIU model is so powerful. It shows you where to look.

Example 1: Sales Are Down

At first glance, this is a Producing problem. The instinct is to double down on sales training, incentives, or motivation. But that rarely moves the needle.

  • Look to the Stabilizing quadrant: Is your CRM messy? Do you lack a steady lead channel?

  • Look to the Innovating quadrant: Has your strategy gone stale? Has product differentiation eroded?

  • Look to the Unifying quadrant: Is there mistrust between sales and leadership that kills energy?

Fix the system around sales, and sales recover.

Example 2: Culture Breakdown

Senior and middle management are at war. Infighting, blame, nothing gets done. Most CEOs run to the Unifying quadrant: team-building, therapy, trust circles. Good luck with that.

  • The real leverage is Stabilizing: clarify the processes, rules of engagement, and decision rights.

  • Or Producing: form a cross-functional team, give them a concrete result to deliver, and put a strong leader in charge.

When structure, goals, and accountabilities are clear, “culture” usually heals itself.

Example 3: Innovation Has Stalled

You’re not creating like you used to. The obvious move is to Innovate harder—hire more creatives, run more brainstorming sessions. But if that worked, it would’ve worked already.

  • The leverage is Stabilizing: how do new ideas get vetted and moved forward smartly?

  • Or Producing: how much energy and urgency do you put behind launches?

  • Or Unifying: how well do product roadmap meetings align stakeholders?

Innovation is an outcome of the system, not just a spark of genius.

The Point

Leverage points are almost always counter-intuitive. If you only stare at the quadrant where the breakdown occurs, you’ll miss the fix. Look adjacent. The system is interconnected. PSIU shows you where the hidden levers live.

📌 P.S., If your org is stuck in complexity, here’s how I help CEOs simplify and scale: https://organizationalphysics.com/ceo-coaching/