Why Leadership Communication Isn’t Optional
I still remember the meeting.
It wasn’t because it was especially long, heated, or dramatic, but because of what didn’t happen.
It was a Wednesday. The kind of day where the coffee’s gone cold before you drink it and the team’s running on back-to-back calls. They’d just launched a new internal tool designed to streamline workflows. On paper, it made perfect sense.
But in practice? There was confusion, frustration, and more than a few raised eyebrows. “Did anyone actually tell us this was happening?” “Why now?” “How are we supposed to support this?”
So the team gathered. One of those quick syncs to “get everyone on the same page.”
Everyone logged in, cameras off. The project leader ran through a tidy slide deck of metrics and updates. It was technically correct, but completely disconnected from how the team felt.
There was no check-in. No room for questions. No acknowledgment that things were rocky.
Afterward, someone messaged me privately: “I know we’re supposed to be excited. But honestly? I feel invisible.”
And just like that, the silence spoke louder than any slide ever could.
What You Don’t Say, You Still Communicate
There’s this belief in leadership that silence is safer, that it buys you time, and that it’s better to wait until the story is clear, clean, and perfectly framed.
But silence isn’t neutral. It gets filled with assumptions, anxiety, and a Slack message from a teammate asking, “Hey, do you know what’s going on?”
I’ve sat beside leaders who cared deeply but forgot that intention doesn’t communicate itself. I’ve also seen quiet managers with just enough vulnerability to earn lasting trust.
Because clarity isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being present, especially when things are still unfolding.
According to Edelman, 63% of employees trust their employer more than government or media. That’s not just a stat. That’s a responsibility.
Storytelling Isn’t Soft. It’s Strategic.
I didn’t build Engage + Empower to help people “sound better.” I built it to help people connect better, especially when the stakes are high.
Because behind every message is a group of people wondering:
- Do I matter here?
- Does this change include me?
- Can I trust what I’m hearing?
When leaders share not just what they are doing but why they are doing it, people respond differently when they tell the story rather than just presenting the status. They engage, adapt, and breathe a little easier.
That’s not soft. That’s strategy.
My Values Are My Business
Empathy, advocacy, community, and clarity aren’t buzzwords to me. They’re the backbone of every service I offer.
When I coach leaders, write strategies, or audit internal communication, I always bring the same lens: What are people feeling right now, and what do they need to hear to move forward?
At Engage + Empower, everything is rooted in my values:
- Empathy and advocacy: Speak to the real experience, not just the planned outcome.
- Family and community: Relationships matter more than hierarchy.
- Balance, flexibility, stability: Sustainable communication over performative perfection.
- Creativity, curiosity, humour, and learning: Clarity can be serious without being stiff.
These aren’t just principles. They’re practices.
Ask Yourself This
If you’re a leader of people, projects, or change, ask yourself:
- When was the last time your team heard directly from you?
- Are you creating space for questions, or just pushing out updates?
- Are you telling the full story, or just the headline?
You don’t need perfect words. You need real ones. And if you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay. Most leaders aren’t taught this, but it’s a skill you can build.
This Is Where I Come In
Whether you need a communications audit, a messaging overhaul, or someone to help you lead through language, I’ve got you.
Because the meeting that changed everything doesn’t start with a deck.
It starts with how you show u and what you choose to say.
Want to talk shop about what’s really going on behind the scenes? Reach out — no pitch, just a real conversation.
