Your Leadership Impact Depends on This One Skill—Are You Getting It Right?

How you communicate as a leader can either build trust and inspire action—or create confusion and disengagement.

Think about it. Have you ever delivered a message that didn’t land how you intended? Or noticed team members hesitating to speak up? These subtle signs could mean your communication style is sabotaging your leadership.

The good news? Small shifts can create significant improvements.

4 Ways to Empower Your Leadership Communication Today

1. Stop Talking, Start Listening

The best leaders don’t dominate conversations—they facilitate them. If your team isn’t offering insights, you might be doing too much talking. Try This: Next time you're in a meeting, ask an open-ended question and count to 10 before responding. This silence gives space for others to step up.

2. Clarity Over Complexity

Are your messages getting lost in a sea of jargon? If people need to “read between the lines,” you’re losing engagement. Try This: Before sending an email or speaking in a meeting, ask yourself: Could a 10-year-old understand this? If not, simplify.

3. Speak with Empathy, Not Authority

Commanding respect doesn’t mean commanding people. Leaders who acknowledge emotions and perspectives build stronger relationships. Try This: Before responding to a concern, use a phrase like, “I hear you. That sounds frustrating. Let’s figure it out together.”

4. Align Your Words with Actions

Nothing kills trust faster than saying one thing and doing another. Your words lose weight if you talk about collaboration but consistently make unilateral decisions. Try This: Keep a leadership journal. At the end of each day, reflect: Did my actions match my words today? If not, how can I adjust?

Immediate Application: A Leadership Communication Template

Use this fill-in-the-blank template to improve how you communicate in team meetings, emails, or one-on-one conversations:

Clear and Engaging Leadership Message Template: "Hey [Team/Name], I want to take a moment to talk about [topic].

I know that [acknowledge any concerns or challenges].

Our goal is to [state the main objective or purpose].

Here’s what we’re doing to move forward: [outline key action steps].

I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts or questions? Let’s figure out how we can make this work together."

Try using this in your next team meeting or email, and watch the difference in engagement!

The Power of Influence in Leadership

Your ability to communicate directly impacts your ability to influence and inspire others. Developing a strong communication strategy is key to leading with confidence and clarity.

Common Leadership Communication Pitfalls

Here are a few common mistakes that can weaken your leadership presence:

• Speaking in vague terms instead of offering clear direction
• Ignoring nonverbal cues that may indicate disengagement
• Assuming understanding rather than confirming it through dialogue
• Reacting defensively instead of responding with curiosity and openness

You can strengthen relationships, build trust, and lead more effectively by intentionally improving your communication.

?? Let’s Connect and Grow Together

Leadership is a continuous journey; refining your communication is key to influencing and inspiring others.

I’d love to hear from you. What’s one communication challenge you are working on?

PS: If you’re looking to grow your influence, get your copy of my book, Expert to Influencer—Your Guide to Building Authority and Credibility as a Leader.

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