The Language of Leadership: 4 Communication Habits That Matter
I was in a meeting the other day where we went around the table and shared a lesson learned. In 75% of the stories, it boiled down to a lesson in communication.
You hear it all the time: communication is key to successful relationships. And it’s true—most relationships, whether at work or at home, are built (or broken) by how well we communicate.
So today, I’m sharing a few communication lessons that keep showing up in my leadership coaching and client conversations—gentle reminders to help us all lead with a little more clarity, presence, and intention.
1. Use Your Calendar
In many organizations, calendars are shared—and they’re often the first way someone figures out how and when to connect with you. Whether it’s a teammate checking for a quick window or a client trying to assess if it’s okay to reach out, your calendar tells a story.
Use it with intention. Block time for deep work. Leave space when you want to be available. Respect others’ calendars, too—and trust that yours can be a tool for better boundaries, clearer communication, and mutual respect.
2. Speak in Context
Sometimes working on a team feels like one big game of telephone. You leave one meeting, roll into another, and someone mentions an idea that vaguely references something you said three days ago. (And if it’s on Zoom with sketchy Wi-Fi? Forget it.)
Be specific. Name the meeting, the person, the timeline. (“In the morning stand-up with Tony” is way more helpful than “in the meeting.”) Your job isn’t to perform perfection—it’s to make sure your words land where they’re supposed to.
3. Confirm in Writing
Close the loop. When so much of our work is digital, acknowledgment becomes an act of respect.
A short response goes a long way:
“I’m on it.”
“I’ve reached out.”
“I’ll follow up tomorrow morning.”
“This is complete.”
You don’t need a formal sign-off every time—just a moment of clarity and follow-through to help people know where things stand.
4. Set Boundaries
You cannot do all the things. (At least, not all at once.) Boundaries in communication aren’t rude—they’re essential.
Try saying:
“I won’t get to this today.”
“I can prioritize this next week.”
“I’m not free at that time.”
“Let’s ask ____ to take this on.”
People can’t always see the full picture of your workload. So give them the gift of clear expectations. And hey—if you beat the timeline or go above and beyond? You just became a rockstar.
More to Come
There are so many ways to strengthen your leadership communication—these are just a few I keep coming back to.
I’ll share more tools, ideas, and real-life lessons in future posts. But for now, maybe take a beat and ask yourself:
Where could I communicate with more clarity today?