Building Team Engagement with Better Communication

After decades leading teams and now coaching executives, I’ve seen this communication gap over and over. A leader thinks they’ve been clear. The team is left confused. Deadlines drift. Engagement drops.

Here’s what works:

Start with WHY.
It’s your job to be aligned with decisions—even the ones you didn’t make. If you lead with “I don’t agree with this, but…” you’ve already lost your team’s trust. Get aligned first. Then clearly communicate the why behind a decision or direction. It builds credibility and boosts execution.

Pick the right HOW.
Stop hiding behind email. Announcing change via a cold, one-way message just doesn’t cut it. Real-time convos (even virtually) save time, create clarity, and empower your team. Tools like Teams or Zoom? Use them. Your people need context, not just instructions.

Be clear on the WHAT — but don’t script the HOW.
State the outcome you need. Then shut up and listen. The best ideas often come from the people closest to the work. Invite their input. Co-create the plan. You’ll get better results and stronger buy-in.

Want to sharpen how you lead and communicate? That’s where C.E.co Executive and Leadership Coaching comes in. Let’s talk.

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