The Communicative Leader
On The Communicative Leader, we're making your work life what you want it to be. Do you need years of training or special equipment? Not at all my friends. Simple, yet thoughtful changes in your communication can make great strides in displaying your leadership ability. And why the heck should you care about leadership communication? Well, communication is the yardstick others use to determine whether or not they see you as a leader. Ahhh don't be scared, I got you. We will walk through common organizational obstacles and chat about small, but meaningful communication-rooted changes you can integrate immediately. No more waiting for the workplace to become what you hope it will. Nope. You, my friends, will be empowered and equipped to make those changes. Let's have some fun! Can't get enough?
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The Communicative Leader
The Best of the Rest Season 6 Finale: Transforming Your Leadership Through Effective Communication
In our season 6 finale, we explore the most pivotal themes of leadership communication discussed throughout our conversations with industry experts. Dr. Leah OH synthesizes key insights into six essential pillars that can transform your leadership approach and drive meaningful change in your organization.
• Empathy and active listening form the foundation of effective leadership communication, with Richard Reid and Andres Lares highlighting how understanding others creates genuine connections
• Clarity and intentionality, as demonstrated by Jimi Gibson's "magic script" framework, helps leaders craft messages that inspire action and prevent costly miscommunication
• Ryan Chute's personal journey illustrates how authenticity and vulnerability build trust and foster innovation rather than signaling weakness
• Taylor Crawbill and Aang Lakey emphasize that empowerment and agency create workplaces where employees feel safe to innovate and contribute their best ideas
• Adaptability and flexibility, championed by Bryan May, prepare leaders to navigate unexpected challenges while viewing change as an opportunity for growth
• Sairan Aqrawi's insight that "action breeds confidence" underscores how continuous learning builds both competence and leadership presence
The path to becoming a communicative leader begins with selecting one actionable suggestion from each theme and integrating it into your leadership approach. Whether practicing empathy through active listening, fostering clarity in communication, or committing to lifelong learning, these steps will have lasting positive impacts on your leadership style and organizational success.
Hey leader! Thanks for listening. For more leadership communication tips, check out https://www.thecommunicativeleader.com/
Welcome to the Communicative Leader, the podcast that dives deep into the art and science of effective leadership communication. I'm your host, dr Leah oh. Today we're about to embark on a transformative journey through the most pivotal themes of leadership communication we discussed this season. It is our best of the rest, season six, finale alley. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a new, emerging leader, this episode promises insights to elevate your leadership practice and drive meaningful change. So let's dive in and have some fun.
Dr. Leah OH:Hello and welcome to the Communicative Leader, hosted by me, Dr. Leah Omilion-Hodges. My friends call me Dr OH. I'm a professor of communication, and a leadership communication expert. I'm the communicative leader. We're working to make your work life what you want it to be.
Dr. Leah OH:In today's rapidly evolving workplace, the ability to communicate effectively has never been more critical. Recent reports indicate that 70% of business leaders find effective communication to be a major factor in organizational success, and you know what that makes sense. Yet we have the rise of hybrid work models. The communication landscape is more complex than ever and leaders are constantly being challenged to adapt their style to digital platforms, navigate cross-cultural interactions and maintain clarity amidst all this noise and disruptions. The dynamics within teams have also shifted, my friends, creating both challenges but also opportunities. And as we adapt to these changes, the role of a communicative leader one who listens, who empathizes and who inspires becomes increasingly vital.
Dr. Leah OH:In today's special episode, season 6, finale Best of the Rest we're going to look at overarching themes identified throughout our season's conversations with these experts that we've had in leadership and communication and business. These themes empathy and active listening, clarity and intentionality, authenticity and vulnerability, empowerment and agency, adaptability and flexibility and continuous learning and development. These represent pillars that you can integrate into your leadership toolkit. Did you know that companies with effective communication practices are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their peers? This statistic underscores the profound impact that quality communication can have on an organization's bottom line and the culture right. We just want to be in organizations where we know that we are respected, where we can communicate clearly and others listen to us and we can navigate conflict with integrity and dignity. So, my friends, over the next 30 to 45 minutes, we're going to dive into each of these themes and we're going to leverage the insightful advice from our esteemed guests this season, like Richard Reed and Ryan Schutt and Ang Lakey and many others who have generously shared their expertise during this season, by the end of the episode, you'll have actionable strategies to not only refine your communication skills, but also to inspire and empower those around you, whether you're in a title leadership position or not. So I want you to get ready to have some fun. I want you to be ready to reflect on your leadership journey and know that you're going to emerge with some new strategies that are going to help you to drive connection and engagement.
Dr. Leah OH:So let's get started with our first theme empathy and active listening. And for each theme, my friends, we're going to bring in a scenario whether it is hypothetical, whether it is anecdotal or whether it is something one of our guests shared to kind of set the stage for that particular tone, for that particular theme. Rather. So, imagine a CEO dealing with a tough negotiation involving a major partnership's future. Instead of dominating the discussion, this leader chooses to listen actively to the concerns and aspirations of the other party, to try to understand their motivations and challenges. And this isn't easy, right? If we're thinking about a major negotiation, we often are thinking about what we stand to win or what we stand to lose, but this empathetic approach can not only salvage the deal but lay a groundwork for a long-term collaborative relationship, proving the power of empathy and active listening.
Dr. Leah OH:So this season, my friends, both Richard Reid and Andres Lares, highlight the transformative role of empathy and leadership, and Andres in particular in empathy in negotiations. So, Richard, who is our expert on charisma, he emphasized the importance of managing your internal emotions, to be fully present with others, and this helps to allow you to have a genuine connection by understanding unspoken cues and emotions. And I really love Richard's take on charisma. He says charisma is not just about making yourself feel good and look good. It is about creating a ripple effect in the world. It's about making other people feel good about themselves as well. And again, this really highlights the empathetic aspect of effective leadership communication. Andres and this is who kicked off season six for us Andres stresses the value of listening more than speaking, and he dispels myths about leaders or negotiators needing to be the loudest or the smoothest of talkers.
Dr. Leah OH:He underscored the importance of great questions and truly understanding and influencing others, and a quote from Andres that I want to raise up the best negotiators are people who ask great questions to really uncover what the other side cares about. So you can help deliver some of that in order to meet your objectives and theirs Right. So we're looking at this as how to figure out how do we make this a win-win. So those are two great episodes and I encourage you to check them out, dive in. But I also want to leave you some practical tips for cultivating empathy. So we can think about role-playing scenarios, and this is where team members switch roles to experience different perspectives, and this is kind of similar to what Andres was talking to us about in this approach in negotiations, where asking right questions leads to a deeper understanding. I also want you to think about the power of regular check-ins.
Dr. Leah OH:So both Richard and Andres recommended structured yet open-ended periods for reflection and meetings and creating the space for team members to share and leaders to listen. It can help to transform that workplace and, my friends, it naturally creates a safer space for quieter voices to speak up, maybe those who need more time to think and process before they share their idea. Also, when we're creating more space, it gives us more time to think about potential unintended consequences or engage in other reflection that can help us to make better decisions. That leads us to mindful listening practice. Use the insights from Richard. So Richard's thing is before you can show up as charismatic on the outside. You need to manage those internal states, needing to make sure that your emotions are in check and that you understand them and are in a good space. So this can be really small, very easy to integrate into your workplace. Before engaging in a conversation, take a minute to practice a breathing technique. So it can be the 4-4-6 method, which is where you inhale for four seconds, hold that breath for four seconds and then exhale for six seconds, and this can help to maintain your focus and your presence. So we know that empathy and active listening are integral to a leader's success. They foster an environment where teams feel valued and understood. We're leading to more innovative solutions and stronger relationships. So when you go back to Richard's episodes, when you go back to Andre's episode, they help to remind you that while empathy may start with listening, it really can end in a lot of transformation for relationships, for teams, for organizations. So think about how to integrate empathy and active listening and you're going to see a profound change with continued use.
Dr. Leah OH:Let's move on to our second theme clarity and intentionality in leadership. So let's start with a workplace story about miscommunication and its consequences. Imagine a project team. They're in a busy marketing agency and they're working on a huge campaign and, due to some vague instructions from leadership, the team misunderstood priorities and it led to a misallocation of resources and a misdeadline, my friends. So this resulted in a significant financial loss and damaged client relationships. This story unfortunately very, very common, right? Because a lot of times we're making assumptions with what others know and not clearly articulating what needs to happen or when it needs to happen. So this lack of clarity can derail even the most promising of projects, and it helps to underscore why intentional communication is key.
Dr. Leah OH:And for this theme in particular, I want us to focus on Jimi Gibson's episode. Jimi Gibson, he's a VP of brand communication at Thrive Agency and he uses his background as a magician to highlight the magic of clarity in leadership communication. And Jimmy emphasizes that every successful interaction follows a clear and engaging structure, and this is really similar to performing a magic trick. So Jimmy tells us that leaders who communicate with precision and purpose are going to be more successful. You can't just talk, you have to create moments that move people. Wow Right, jimmy's on to something here, my friends. So in this episode, Jimi shared his magic script framework and and he provided a case study where this clear communication really helped to turn a project around and a company was facing high client churn rates. It was threatening its revenue stream. But by utilizing his clarity-focused communication strategy, jimmy helped implement this proactive client engagement program. The team was able to predict and address issues before they resulted in cancellations, and it brought teams together under a common language and vision, which led to a substantial decrease in churn and an increase in client loyalty.
Dr. Leah OH:I mean, that sounds amazing, right? So let's look at some techniques for improving your clarity. So I want you to think about the five W's the who, what, where, when and why. When we are communicating any message, applying those five W's to ensure necessary information is covered is a great kind of check before you hit, send on that message, or you post, go through. Does my audience have what they need? This technique keeps messages concise and prevents ambiguity, similar to Jimmy's methods of creating straightforward, magic-like moments in communication. I also want you to think about how to structure your communication.
Dr. Leah OH:You can follow Jimmy's magic script, which involves three phases connection, curiosity and conversation. Establish a connection with your audience, build curiosity to maintain their interest and then direct them toward a clear and compelling conclusion for decisive action. We need to be clear on what we expect them to do next. And another thing that Jimmy left us with is the power of a simple and clear message. As Jimmy advises, if you can't explain your message in one sentence to a 10-year-old, it is too complicated. Keep it simple, keep it actionable. Focus on the essence of what you're attempting to communicate, to ensure understanding and helping to reduce hesitation on your audience's part.
Dr. Leah OH:Clarity and intentionality in communication are more than just effective tools. It is really transformative practices that can dramatically change the dynamics of an organization. Jimmy's episode reminds us of the power of clarity in driving engagement and achieving results. So leaders, employees of all ranks, should aim to be intentional in every message, ensuring clarity that inspires and empowers their teams. So when you adopt these practices, leaders can create environments where communication is seamless, objectives are clear and, my friends, when we have seamless communication and clear objectives, we have paved a path to success.
Dr. Leah OH:So let's look at our third theme from the season authenticity and vulnerability. And when I was thinking about this theme, I thought about a compelling story that Ryan Chute shared with us and how this vulnerability led to a breakthrough. Ryan, from Wizard of Ads, shared an experience from very early on in his career in retail. He was fired for being an ineffective manager and Ryan faced an existential crisis. It was his willingness to be vulnerable and acknowledge those shortcomings that led to a profound transformation. So he explored these areas of friction and embrace vulnerability, and because of it, he was able to rebuild his leadership approach, ultimately fostering a more supportive and dynamic work environment. This openness not only enhanced team dynamics, but also rebuilt client trust and credibility.
Dr. Leah OH:So let's look at some actionable strategies for practicing vulnerability, because, again, this is something that I think it sounds great, but it's hard to figure out. How do I do this and how do I do it well and in a normative way? So one look at sharing lessons from past obstacles or failures, like Ryan did. Openly discussing a past failure with your team can be really transformative. By sharing these experiences, you demonstrate humility and you encourage a culture where learning and growth from mistakes are celebrated rather than hidden. That is really powerful.
Dr. Leah OH:I also want you to think about seeking feedback. So Ryan emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding your team's emotions and kind of checking in on where they are. So regularly seeking feedback from team members about your leadership style and decisions if you're a titled leader can be really helpful because it provides valuable insights, but it is also showing your willingness to adapt and your desire to continue to improve. My friends, even if you're not in a titled leadership position, asking your manager for feedback or a peer someone you work closely with, a trusted colleague this can help you to identify potential blind spots that might be holding you back or just figuring out new ways to grow.
Dr. Leah OH:Again, I want you all to think about creating safe spaces for open dialogue, so you want team members to feel safe. Expressing their thoughts concerns any dissent. If you have a team member who is experienced in an area and thinks, oh no, this decision is going to be a mess. You want an environment where they can raise their hand and they know they're not going to be screamed at and that someone is going to listen to them, and they know they're not going to be screamed at and that someone is going to listen to them, so you can implement regular check-ins and open forums. You know this echoes Ryan's approach for minimizing friction through effective communication, and it also is allowing for the authentic exchange of ideas can help to strengthen team cohesion. So vulnerability in leadership is not a sign of weakness, but it's really a powerful tool to build trust and to foster innovation, and Ryan illustrated that embracing vulnerability leads to more genuine connections and effective leadership. So I want you to encourage others to practice openness and empathy in creating a culture where people feel empowered to contribute their best, and that also means owning mistakes and helping people to problem solve what's next rather than getting stuck in the shame of failure.
Dr. Leah OH:So our next theme empowerment and agency. So I want to start with a narrative about a team member who thrived because of the empowerment-focused leadership, flourishing because their manager delegated significant responsibilities to them after recognizing they could handle that and actively celebrated this junior associate's unique contributions. When we recognize the potential of others and we give them the freedom to explore creative solutions, then all of a sudden we recognize that we have given permission and opened the door for someone to really thrive. So I want you to think about this, because there is so much power in empowerment and unleashing team potential. And for this theme, I thought about episodes from Taylor Crawbell and Ang Lakey. So Taylor Crawbell is an advocate for workplace justice and he emphasizes an empowered workplace is also a just workplace. By focusing on fairness and fostering fairness, leaders can minimize turnover and create environments where employees feel safe to be innovative. He notes that the biggest thing is to be proactive making an informed decision and doing what's right for you. Empowering employees to make informed decisions cultivates a culture of mutual respect and growth. And I also want to bring in Aang Lakey, who advises leaders in the US Army and federal government, and Aang discusses empowerment through conscious leadership and intentional communication. They highlighted that integrating consciousness into leadership helps leaders adapt and helps them connect with their teams on a deeper level, and this can foster an environment again where innovation can thrive.
Dr. Leah OH:Aang told us it's about reminding yourself okay, I need to get up, I need to go away from this situation. How do I make them feel safe? By being intentional in your actions and creating again those safe spaces, leaders can empower their teams to excel. So what are some of these practical ways that leaders can empower teams? One delegate meaningful tasks, not menial meaningful tasks. It is easy to delegate the tasks that we don't really like or aren't really high stakes, but it is a different thing, my friends, to trust team members with significant projects and responsibilities and assigning tasks that align with their strengths and that encourage growth.
Dr. Leah OH:You know, similar to that junior associate story we shared at the beginning of this theme. Not only does it increase motivation, but you're also letting employees for their contribution. As Aang suggests, visible commitment and actions such as acknowledging team successes publicly reinforces a culture of empowerment and appreciation. Also, you want to think about how do we encourage continuous learning. To think about how do we encourage continuous learning. And Taylor talks about some of his advice on workplace justice and ensuring all voices are heard and valued, and also supporting attendance at workshops and conferences other professional development activities. You know and echoes his focus on self-improvement and adaptability as key components of leadership.
Dr. Leah OH:In today's dynamic environments, empowerment and leadership is fundamental to fostering innovation and reducing turnover. Creators can create workplaces not only value justice and intentional communication, but also nurture the potential of all team members. This leads us to our fifth theme adaptability and flexibility, and in this one, I want you to think about a tech company facing a major product launch delay due to unexpected software issues. It's never fun, but we know this happens and this team was under immense pressure and traditional communication channels were ineffective at addressing these rapid changes. But by shifting to adaptive communication strategies, implementing an agile project management approach, for example, or utilizing real-time collaboration tools, the team is able to streamline problem-solving processes. This adaptability can not only resolve the bottleneck, but also ensure a successful, on-time product launch. So we recognize the power of flexible communication and overcoming very common but very real organizational hurdles.
Dr. Leah OH:Bryan May, a guest this season. He merges spirituality and business strategy and he emphasized the significance of resilience and adaptability in leadership. And Brian shared that life isn't mere. It's about preparing for the unexpected and being able to reflect and adapt, and his insights encourage leaders to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation, rather than setback. But how do we actually practice adaptability right?
Dr. Leah OH:So some things I want you to think about. Encourage your team to test new communication platforms or project management tools for a limited time, so not only does this help them find the best fit for your team's needs, but it fosters a culture of experimentation and adaptability. You can also think about scenario planning workshops, so you could just set aside some time where team members brainstorm responses to potential disruptions. So it's this idea of you know you, you plan for the worst, but expect the best, so that teams can enhance readiness and flexibility, making sure they're equipped to handle unexpected challenges and to do so with some ease, even if these things don't come to pass. We're engaging in critical thinking, we're engaging in problem solving, we're engaging in activities to boost our team cohesion. And the last suggestion here I want you to think about integrating reflection. So, inspired by Brian's emphasis on reflection, incorporate regular reflective sessions where team members can discuss what has worked, what didn't and how they can adapt, moving forward. This continuous feedback loop can enhance adaptability as well. So, again, my friends, we know that adaptability and flexibility and leadership are essential for navigating business environments today that are changing daily. Right by integrating these insights, you can cultivate a more resilient and a more innovative team culture.
Dr. Leah OH:And this leads us to our last theme continuous learning and development. And in this one we're going to raise up the insights from Seiran Akwari, but I want to begin with the success story of a leader who transformed their organization by embracing a culture of learning and growth. It was a mid-sized tech company. The CEO realized the industry was outpacing them due to rapid tech advancements. So, to keep up, the CEO launched a continuous learning initiative, encouraging all employees to engage in regular skill development. Not only did she encourage this, she incentivized it and allowed them to use work time for this. So by implementing weekly learning sessions and providing resources for professional courses, ceo not only revitalized the company's competitive edge, but also saw a huge increase in employee satisfaction and retention, and this helps to illustrate the profound impact of a commitment to learning at all organizational levels.
Dr. Leah OH:So let's think about Sairan's episode. Sairan is an accomplished engineer and a business coach, and she emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, especially for midlife women. And one thing that I really appreciated was the way Sairan thought about confidence and she said you will never, ever gain that confidence if you are not competent. You have to gain the skills. When we say confidence, action breeds confidence, and I just think that is brilliant. So this insight it's crucial. It highlights that the path to confidence is built through competence, mastering new skills and applying them over time. And Sairan's perspective encourages leaders to see continuous learning not just as professional growth but as a personal evolution, like blending emotional intelligence with technical skills to foster an even more dynamic workforce. So let's think about some tips for integrating learning into daily routines.
Dr. Leah OH:I encourage you to schedule time for knowledge sharing. So, whether it is something you do in a weekly meeting or a monthly meeting for team members, give them space to share insights, whether that is an article that they've read, a book that has been informative for them, or courses that they found valuable. This practice encourages a culture of learning and collaboration and enhances your overall team performance. I also want you to encourage professional development, whether it is access to online courses, workshops, sending people to seminars. When you foster an environment where employees feel supported in pursuit of new skills, then all of a sudden, we're developing more competence and, as a result, more confidence as well. Implement learning goals into performance reviews. So when we have a couple of individual learning objectives set as part of your regular performance assessment, this reinforces the value placed on development and ensures ongoing personal and professional growth. I want you to think about mentor programs, mentorship opportunities with the organizations, whether this is formally, whether this is through informal relationships, whether we're setting up times for employees to network across departments. This can be really effective also for generating new ideas across traditional boundaries and organizations. Then, finally, I want you to think about how you can encourage micro learning. So there are a number of platforms that deliver bite-sized learning modules, and a lot of times this is what we have time for in our busy work days, but when we do this, we can facilitate continuous learning despite, you know, being overscheduled, making development more accessible and manageable. So continuous learning and development, pivotal for personal empowerment and organizational success. By integrating Sairan's insights on confidence through competence, leaders can create environment where growth thrives.
Dr. Leah OH:So, as we draw to a close on this journey through the most pivotal themes of leadership communication in this season, I want to revisit each takeaway. Firstly, empathy and active listening emerged as foundational. Richard Reed shared that charisma is about creating a ripple effect in the world, and his insights encourage us to listen deeply, not just respond, but to understand and connect. Practicing active listening allows leaders to engage authentically and build stronger, more trustful relationships. If we look at clarity and intentionality, Jimi Gibson compared effective communication to performing a magic act it is structured, it is intentional and it is impactful. Clear communication helps avoid the pitfalls of misunderstanding and it helps align everyone towards shared objectives. Right, much like a very well-rehearsed performance.
Dr. Leah OH:As we discussed authenticity and vulnerability, Ryan Chute's story of personal transformation provided a powerful reminder that embracing vulnerability fosters a culture of openness and innovation. His journey taught us to see vulnerability not as weakness but as a strength that builds deeper connections and trust. Transitioning to empowerment and agency, we learned from Taylor Crawbill that being proactive and making informed decisions can transform workplaces into empowering environments and Aang Lakey reinforces by asking leaders to be intentional in creating safe spaces. By fostering agency leaders, unlock their team's full potential and innovation can flourish. In discussing adaptability and flexibility, Bryan May reminded us that life is a mirror, urging us to prepare for the unexpected and adapt with resilience. Finally, on continuous learning and development, Sairan Aqrawi offered a powerful truth Action builds confidence. Continuous learning not only builds competence, but drives personal and professional growth. By aligning learning with purpose, leaders can promote a culture of development and empowerment.
Dr. Leah OH:With these insights in mind, I challenge you to select one actionable suggestion from each theme and weave it into your leadership approach. And I don't say do this all right now, but maybe for this first month you focus on one from empathy and maybe in the next month you're going to focus on something from continuous learning Again, whether it's practicing empathy through active listening, fostering clarity in your communication or committing to lifelong learning, these steps can leave lasting positive impacts on your leadership style and on your organization's success. As Maya Angelou once said, do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better. Let this encouragement lead you to continually refine your leadership journey, inspire your teams and drive change with empathy and integrity. Thank you, my friends, for being part of this exploration into effective leadership communication, and I can't wait to connect with you again on the next season of the Communicative Leader. All right, my friends, that wraps up our conversation today. Until next time, communicate with intention and lead with purpose. I'm looking forward to chatting with you again soon on the Communicative Leader.
