Effective communication in the workplace starts with mastering two fundamental skills that every leader needs to succeed. To truly improve communication skills, focusing on these core abilities can make a significant difference.

What Makes Communication Effective in Leadership?

Communication skills are the backbone of successful leadership. Whether you’re managing a team, presenting to stakeholders, or collaborating with colleagues, your ability to share information clearly determines your impact. But what separates good communicators from great ones?

Effective communication means sharing information and ideas that inspire and align people toward common goals. After years of working with teams and speaking to groups, I’ve discovered that mastering communication boils down to two essential abilities:

1. Simplifying complex ideas into clear, understandable messages
2. Creating open dialogue that encourages honest feedback and collaboration

Why Even Experienced Communicators Struggle

Despite having years of speaking experience, I still occasionally give directions that people completely misunderstand. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Research shows that 86% of workplace failures stem from poor communication and collaboration.

The reality is that communication barriers exist even for seasoned professionals. The difference between effective and ineffective communicators lies in recognizing these barriers and having strategies to overcome them.

3 Quick Checks to Improve Your Communication Skills

Here are three immediate steps you can take to enhance your workplace communication:

1. Eliminate Jargon and Assumptions

Ask yourself: Are you using terms your audience doesn’t understand?

Industry jargon might make you sound knowledgeable, but it creates barriers. Some companies have recognized this problem so clearly that they create vocabulary guides for employees. Before your next meeting or presentation, review your language choices. Replace technical terms with plain English wherever possible.

Pro tip: If you must use specialized terms, define them immediately or provide context.

2. Don’t Assume Shared Knowledge

Ask yourself: Are you expecting people to know what you know?

This is perhaps the most common communication mistake leaders make. How can someone provide excellent customer service if they’ve never been taught what that looks like? Meet people where they are, not where you think they should be.

Before explaining a process or giving instructions, consider your audience’s background and experience level. Provide the context they need to succeed.

3. Get Clear in Your Own Mind First

Ask yourself: Do you know exactly what needs to be done and how?

Before communicating with others, ensure you have clarity yourself. As my dad used to say, “Poor planning on your part does not make an emergency on mine.”

Take time to organize your thoughts, define your objectives, and outline the steps involved. Clear thinking leads to clear communication.

The Impact of Better Communication Skills

When you implement these three checks, you’ll immediately notice improvements in:

• Team productivity – Clear instructions reduce confusion and rework
• Employee engagement – People feel more confident when they understand expectations
• Leadership effectiveness – Your influence grows when people can follow your guidance
• Workplace relationships – Fewer misunderstandings mean less frustration

What’s Next: Building Open Dialogue

Catching these common communication mistakes will immediately improve your effectiveness. But mastering the first skill—simplifying complex ideas—is only half the battle.

Next week, we’ll explore the second essential communication skill: creating open dialogue that encourages honest feedback and builds stronger team relationships.

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Other posts to look at on this topic:

Strength-Based Leadership: Why Great Leaders Focus on Potential, Not Flaws

Other resources:

Harvard Business Review (Section on business communication)