Even the most skilled communicators have moments when their message does not land. You might be clear, confident, and well-prepared, but the other person’s expression or response tells you something is off. This is where flexibility becomes a leadership strength.
Sticking with the same approach when it is clearly not working can create frustration on both sides. The other person may shut down, get defensive, or become disengaged. You may feel the need to push harder, explain more, or retreat altogether. None of those options improves the connection.
(more…)by Michelle Cummings
Most leaders spend a lot of time refining what they want to say. Fewer think about how that message is actually received. But communication isn’t about transmission – it’s about connection. And connection often hinges on how well you understand your own natural style and how others might interpret it.
DiSC is one of the most widely used communication and behavior assessments for a reason. It gives people a common language to understand preferences, tendencies, and blind spots. Are you fast-paced and assertive? Warm and people-focused? Analytical and cautious? Each DiSC style brings strengths—but also potential friction when misunderstood.
(more…)Good communication is not just about the message. It is also about how the message is delivered. Pace and tone are two often-overlooked tools that can make or break understanding. Leaders who know how to adjust these elements create more connection and reduce friction, even with people who have very different communication styles.
Some people prefer a quick, energetic pace. They want to get to the point and move on. Others need a slower rhythm, time to reflect, and space to process before responding. The same goes for tone. One person may respond well to enthusiasm and high energy, while another may feel more at ease with a calm, steady approach.
(more…)Successful conversations do not start with the words you choose in the moment. They start with the thought you put in beforehand. One of the most powerful ways to prepare for a conversation is to consider what drives or discourages the other person. This small step can shift the entire tone and outcome.
Everyone has unique motivators: things that inspire energy, excitement, and engagement. They also have triggers that cause frustration, defensiveness, or disengagement. When leaders take time to understand these factors, they can approach conversations in a way that resonates instead of repels.
(more…)Strong communication is not just about what you say. It’s about how you say it and how you listen. Leaders who adapt their approach to match the preferences of the person they are speaking with build stronger relationships and create more effective conversations.
People have different communication needs. Some thrive on direct, concise messages. Others prefer detailed context before making decisions. Some process ideas out loud, while others need time to reflect before responding. When you understand these differences, you can adjust how you speak and listen to make your message land more effectively.
(more…)Most leaders have a natural way of communicating. It’s shaped by personality, experience, and comfort. When things are going well, that style can feel effortless. But communication is not one-size-fits-all. What feels clear to you might feel overwhelming, vague, or disconnected to someone else.
Recognizing when your message isn’t landing is a critical leadership skill. Sometimes the signs are subtle: a blank expression, crossed arms, or short replies. Other times, it’s obvious: confusion, frustration, or complete disengagement. These moments are not failures; they’re feedback that your approach needs to shift.
(more…)True leadership starts with the courage to communicate openly, with clarity and conviction. But great leaders don’t just speak—they listen, adapt, and make sure their words truly connect. In our Voice of a Leader module, we don’t hold back. We dive deep into what it means to communicate effectively, because your voice shapes your team’s trust, alignment, and ultimately, your success. This is about finding your voice—authentic, unfiltered, and purposeful—and using it to build a culture where everyone feels heard, respected, and inspired to do their best work.
The Voice module within the Personify Leadership program focuses on developing leaders’ communication skills to inspire trust, clarity, and connection within their teams. This module emphasizes the importance of clear messaging and effective listening to ensure that leaders can convey their vision, expectations, and feedback with impact.
(more…)Whether it’s a change in season, our homes, or our teams, most of us are fascinated by makeovers. I know I spend way too much time watching the HGTV channel myself. From magazines to trainings to television shows, we all drink in reinventions of almost every conceivable thing: rooms, closets, cars, bodies, even relationships. Why? Because aside from a little silliness here and there, makeovers are particularly instructive. They offer a window into the process of transformation, the whys, the hows, and the actions that bring it about. Wanting to do something better… it is an outer expression of an inner desire.
On the one hand, change can be fun and anticipatory. As mentioned above, reinventing or refreshing a space can be creative and invigorating, and the change of seasons to Fall welcomes cooler temperatures and the beauty of the changing leaves. On the other hand, change can be really hard. Especially if the change is not something you wanted or anticipated, like the people devastated by Hurricane Helene, the passing of a loved one, or a relationship ending badly. There are also many massive changes going on in the world right now, such as our impending election and unpredictable war-torn areas of the globe.
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Tag: Voice of a Leader
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