One of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve learned:
Even when you think you’re being clear, you probably aren’t.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought:
“I already explained this.”
“We already talked about this.”
“Everyone knows this is important.”
And then later realized:
The team heard it differently.
Or they didn’t understand the context.
Or they didn’t realize the importance of what was shared.
That’s because leadership communication isn’t just about saying something once.
It’s about making sure people truly understand:
what matters
why it matters
and what great looks like
This applies to communicating…
👉 Goals
👉 Important updates
👉 Decision-making rationale
👉 Feedback
👉 Business priorities
👉 Process and operational changes
👉 Strategy
💡 The Vault Insight: Clarity is rarely achieved in one conversation. In fact, by the time you’re sick of repeating something, your team is probably just beginning to hear it, absorb it, and connect it to their day-to-day work.
Here’s how you can improve your leadership clarity:
✅ Communicate in multiple formats
If information is important, it shouldn’t live in just one place:
Write it down.
Share it on a slide.
Say it aloud.
Show it visually.
Put it in Slack.
Send it in email.
Repeat it in meetings and 1:1s.
People absorb information differently, and repetition across channels creates alignment and shared understanding.
✅ Repeat yourself more than feels natural
One of the biggest leadership mistakes is assuming one mention equals understanding.
Usually, by the time you’re tired of repeating something, your team is just beginning to internalize it.
Repetition creates clarity.
Clarity creates consistency.
✅ Use plain language
Complex language often creates distance instead of understanding.
Avoid jargon whenever possible.
Say things as simply and directly as you can.
Explain acronyms.
Provide context.
The goal isn’t sounding impressive.
The goal is being understood.
✅ Give concrete examples
People remember stories and examples far more than abstract instructions.
Show people what “great” looks like in practice.
Walk through examples.
Illustrate outcomes.
Specificity reduces ambiguity.
✅ Explain why it matters
This is the step leaders skip most often, and it’s the most important.
Don’t just state things. Explain…
why it matters
why now
how it impacts the business
and why your team should care
People commit more deeply when they understand the bigger picture.
—Ashley Walton, CMO & Treadmill Desk Advocate
🛠️ Steal This Script for Your Next 1:1
Refer to information you’ve previously shared and check for understanding, not just awareness:
“I shared X in our team meeting yesterday. How do you think you’ll apply it in your work?”
“I shared X yesterday in Slack. Did it make sense? Do you have any questions about what that looks like in action?”
“I shared X in an email yesterday. How did you feel about the news?”
“Thinking back from our last 1:1 and most recent team meetings, what feels unclear or ambiguous?”
“Why do you think X matters to the team and business?”