We all communicate every day, but here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of us aren’t nearly as good at communication as we think. We assume people know what we mean, what we need, or what we expect, and then we wonder why things get missed or misunderstood. The goal of communication is to create shared understanding. In this episode, we’ll explore the difference between no communication, confusing communication, implied communication, and clear communication. We’ll discover a few simple ways to communicate the “why,” close the loop, and build greater trust. Because at the end of the day, communication isn’t just about transferring information, it’s about building relationships and creating a healthy culture.

Why communication is so challenging

• We think we’re good at it when we’re not.
• We sometimes think people should “know” intuitively what we want and or/need from them.

Effective communication has a single goal: shared understanding

• Shared understanding requires sending a clear message.
• When the receiver’s understanding matches our own, then we have good communication.

Types of communication

• No communication: Communication that is vague and unexpressed
• Confusing communication: It’s expressed, but still vague. Be aware of the gap between your understanding and that of your team.
• Implied communication: Communication that’s clear to the speaker but not fully expressed to the team.
• Clear communication: The hearer’s understanding matches yours.

Communication tips

• Consistently communicate the “why.” A clear “why” adds clarity.
• Close the loop: “What do you understand from what I just said?”
• Give yourself grace: Almost every great communicator started as a poor communicator.

At the end of the day, communication isn’t just about getting information from one person to another . . . it’s about building trust, creating clarity, and strengthening relationships.