Speak So They Listen: Why Your Message Isn’t Landing (and What to Do About It)
Speak So They Listen: Why Your Message Isn’t Landing (and What to Do About It)
I work with leaders who are buried in the day-to-day.
And one of the biggest frustrations I hear?
“I’ve said it… multiple times… and it’s still not getting done.”
Sound familiar?
In most cases, it’s not a capability issue.
It’s a communication issue.
Especially in environments where speed, pressure, and moving parts are constant—how you communicate matters just as much as what you say.
Here are three shifts that will immediately improve how your message lands:
1. Clarity beats volume
Repeating yourself isn’t the same as being clear.
Many leaders think if they say it again—and louder—it will stick. It doesn’t.
Instead, ask yourself:
Did I clearly define the outcome?
Did I explain what “done” looks like?
Did I confirm understanding?
Clarity creates ownership.
Vagueness creates rework.
2. Adjust your style, not just your message
Not everyone processes information the same way.
Some team members want the bottom line.
Others want context.
Some move fast. Others need time to think it through.
If you’re using the same communication style with everyone, you’re likely missing part of your team.
This is where tools like DiSC come in—but even without the assessment, you can start by observing:
Do they ask a lot of questions or very few?
Do they move quickly or cautiously?
Do they focus on people or tasks?
When you adjust how you deliver the message, your impact changes immediately.
3. Alignment is more important than agreement
You don’t need everyone to agree.
But you do need everyone aligned.
Misalignment shows up later as:
Missed expectations
Frustration between teams
Last-minute fire drills
Before you move on from a conversation, ask:
“Are we aligned on next steps?”
It’s a simple question—but it prevents a lot of downstream issues.
Final thought
Strong communication isn’t about saying more.
It’s about making sure what you said actually lands.
If you’re finding yourself repeating, re-explaining, or stepping back into the weeds—it’s worth taking a step back and looking at how the message is being delivered.
Because when communication improves, everything else gets easier.
If this resonated, take one conversation this week and apply just one of these shifts.
That’s where change starts.
I work with leaders who are buried in the day-to-day.
I help them simplify things, get out of the weeds, and start running the business instead of the business running them.
If this is something you’re working through, I recently shared more on this in my podcast episode #6, “Speak So They Listen: The Art of Executive Communication.” Find my podcast, Top Floor, Please on Spotify or my Grace & Salt Leadership Academy YouTube channel.
