Leaders must understand that communication requires courage, clarity, and care. It takes time, intention, and experience to teach us that communication is not just a skill, it is a responsibility.
Effective leaders do their best not to hurt feelings while ensuring they understand and are understood.
Leaders who succeed take responsibility for both sides of communication. They ensure they are heard and consider how others hear them. Communication is a two‑way process, not a one‑way act.
None of this is new, but the stakes today are higher.
The Modern Communication Crisis
Today’s work environment makes communication even more challenging:
- AI, messaging systems, and lower reading levels weaken clear expression.
- Emotional reactivity makes people easily offended, afraid of the side effects, or hesitant to tell the truth.
- Social media distortions cause people to trust posts over real conversations.
One employee, after discovering an online error, asked, “Why would they write something that wasn’t true?” Errors happen due to multitasking, poor attention to detail, lack of verification, and not understanding the impact on others. Yet people believe what fits their comfort zone.
It’s why leaders must stay alert. Remember, if you weren’t there, you don’t know the facts and many people talk as if they do know.
Common Communication Challenges and Solutions
The myth of “I’ve got it handled.” Effective communication is a lifelong process. If you think you’ve mastered it, you’re already behind. Everyone listens through filters and those filters shift with world changes. Remember, you don’t have it handled.
Leaders who rely on ego fail. “It’s up to them to understand me.” Leaders who continually improve their communication style succeed. Legacy leaders know mastery is never final; it is sustained through humility and practice.
Know your audience. People learn and process information differently. When leaders talk too much, offer no context, or make everything about themselves, people tune out. Learn to keep it simple.
- Use words people can understand
- Avoid insider language (jargon)
- Speak for clarity, not to show expertise
- Use open‑ended questions to engage others
Use tools that help people understand. When someone struggles to understand you, help them out.
- Use graphs
- Use flowcharts
- Use physical examples
- Keep it simple
Communication is more than words. Tone, gestures, impatience, and emotional reactions can undermine your message. If this happens often, reflect. If it persists, work with an executive coach. If deeper patterns appear, explore them with a therapist. Many habits come from old roles we’ve outgrown.
Perception shapes reality. This requires taking responsibility for how people hear you and each other. Everyone listens through their own filter and these filters shift with world and company changes.
Brainstorming and Storytelling. Good communication skills make brainstorming productive and helps people feel valued. Storytelling inspires only when done well.
- Use Round‑Robin input (go around more than once)
- Value each person’s contribution
- Keep stories on point and don’t lose the thread mid-story
- Don’t dismiss unusual ideas
- Use open‑ended questions to keep people talking and listening
What leaders must avoid doing when talking and listening with others. These blind spots are fixable and communicate one message: “I don’t value you.”
- “I’m too busy.”
- Multitasking
- Talking over someone
- Having a ready answer before they finish talking
- Unexamined biases and judgments
- Being dismissive or joking about others’ ideas
Effective communication has always been hard and requires courage, clarity, and care. Also, it requires awareness, emotional intelligence, and the willingness to take responsibility for what you say and how you say it. Great leadership demands nothing less.
© Jeannette Seibly 2026 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Leadership Results Coach, Talent Advisor, and Business Author with 33 years of experience guiding leaders and executives to achieve exceptional results. She delivers practical coaching and innovative solutions for hiring, leadership development, and performance success. Successful leaders have coaches—connect with Jeannette to elevate your results and impact in 2026.
You may not be aware that your communication style is getting in the way of achieving your intended results. Blind spots are very difficult to see. Contact me for a confidential conversation to identify the gaps and strengthen your impact as a leader.