C is for Communication: Beyond Style, Toward Impact.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw.

In leadership teams, communication isn’t just about clarity - it’s about connection, alignment, and trust. Yet many teams default to habitual styles that reinforce silos or avoid conflict.

Research shows that adaptive communication - where leaders flex between assertiveness, inquiry, and empathy - correlates with higher team effectiveness and psychological safety.

We often see teams where communication is technically “efficient” but emotionally disconnected. One founder described their board meetings as “a series of well-rehearsed monologues.”

When we introduced a framework for adaptive dialogue, the shift was immediate: more curiosity, less defensiveness, and a renewed sense of shared ownership.

Actionable Insight:

• Audit your team’s communication: Are you exchanging information or building understanding?  How many open questions do you ask?

  
  

• Introduce “rounds” in meetings - everyone speaks, no interruptions. 

  
  

• Use tools like VoicePrint to assess communication climate.

Why it matters: Communication is the bloodstream of leadership. When it flows well, teams thrive. When it clots, dysfunction spreads.

McEwan, D., Ruissen, G. R., Eys, M. A., Zumbo, B. D., & Beauchamp, M. R. (2017). The effectiveness of teamwork training on teamwork behaviors and team performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled interventions. PLOS ONE, 12(1), e0169604.  

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.