Encouraging Mindful Communication

I've coached 400+ CEOs. The best ones don't communicate better. They communicate differently. While average leaders wing it, great ones use proven methods that turn conversations into opportunities. After 20+ years studying top performers, I've identified 7 communication systems that separate good from great. (Save this. You'll need it for your next big meeting.) 1. The 3 Levels of Listening Stop listening to reply. Start listening to understand. Level 1: You're thinking about your response Level 2: You're focused on their words Level 3: You're reading the room—energy, tone, silence One CEO used this to uncover why his top performer was really leaving. Saved a $10M account. 2. What? So What? Now What? Transform rambling updates into decisive action. What = The facts (30 seconds max) So What = Why it matters to the business Now What = The specific decision needed Cut meeting time by 40%. 3. PREP Method Never fumble another investor question. Point: Your answer in one sentence Reason: Why you believe it Example: Proof from your business Point: Reinforce your answer Practice this for 5 minutes daily. Sound prepared always. 4. RACI Matrix Kill confusion before it starts. Responsible: Who does the work Accountable: Who owns success/failure (only ONE person) Consulted: Who gives input Informed: Who needs updates Projects with clear RACI are 3x more likely to succeed. 5. Story of Self/Us/Now Move hearts, not just minds. Story of Self: Why YOU care (personal conviction) Story of Us: Our shared challenge Story of Now: The urgent choice we face This framework has helped politicians win. It'll help you raise capital or inspire your team to meet a big goal. 6. The Pyramid Principle Get board approval in half the time. Start with your recommendation Give 3 supporting arguments (max) Order by impact (strongest first) Data goes last, not first McKinsey consultants swear by this. So should you. 7. COIN Feedback Model Make tough conversations productive. Context: When and where it happened Observation: What you saw (facts only) Impact: The business consequence Next: Agreed action steps No more avoided conversations. No more resentment. Your next funding round, key hire, or major deal doesn't depend on working harder. It depends on communicating better. Because in the end, leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions, listening deeper, and communicating with precision. Your team is waiting for you to lead like this. P.S. Want a PDF of my Leadership Communication Cheat Sheet? Get it free: https://lnkd.in/dbaSN9fJ ♻️ Repost to help a founder level up their communication. Follow Eric Partaker for more leadership tools.

"In teamwork, silence isn't golden, it's deadly." 🔹 Throughout my leadership journey in the #CivilServices, I have come to appreciate the critical role that #communication plays in building successful teams. 🔹 It's not just about issuing directives—it's about ensuring that every team member feels: ➡️ Heard ➡️ Valued ➡️ Connected to the organization’s broader mission and vision. 🔹 In the often rigid structure of the bureaucratic system, I’ve always felt the need for more horizontal and bottom-up communication. ➡️ Implementing these channels has had a significant impact: ✨ It allows me to voice my insights and concerns upwards. ✨ It encourages my staff to share their feedback and ideas openly, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. 🔹 By prioritizing regular updates, open discussions, and feedback loops, we: ➡️ Celebrate our achievements. ➡️ Address any challenges collaboratively. ➡️ Keep everyone informed, engaged, and motivated to move forward together. 🔹 Working in dynamic settings means setbacks are inevitable. ➡️ But the real strength of a team lies in its ability to openly address challenges and brainstorm solutions together. ➡️ By fostering a culture of open communication, we anticipate potential roadblocks and develop strategies to overcome them collectively. 🔍 How do you encourage communication within your teams? I’d love to hear about the unique ways you promote a culture of open dialogue and shared purpose in your organization!

When I assess team dynamics, I never ask “what’s your communication process?” Instead, I ask:   - Who gets to disagree here? - Who offers the ‘obvious’ idea? - Who names the elephant in the room? - And who pushes things forward when no one’s ready? These aren’t personality traits but team conversation roles. And David Kantor’s research shows that high-performing teams cycle through 4 roles in real-time conversations: 1. Initiator - proposes direction 2. Supporter - builds on the idea 3. Challenger - tests assumptions 4. Observer - brings perspective But here’s what’s not obvious: These roles are not titles, archetypes, or fixed styles. They’re functions and they only show up when the team culture allows them. And that’s where 🧠 team psychological safety comes in. When it's high: - The Challenger dares to disagree without fear of judgment - The Observer can name what others avoid without being dismissed - The Supporter feels safe amplifying ideas, not just agreeing - And the Initiator doesn’t dominate out of silence, but lead within dialogue Because effective team communication isn’t about being present in the room and talking. It’s about ensuring the right mix of roles (!) shows up at the right time. P.S.: Which of these roles is missing (or overused) in your team? 📊 Studies: Kantor, 2012; Edmondson, 1999.

Ever dreamed of being in a nice and harmonious team? It might be your biggest nightmare. Clients have approached me to find out how they can stop people from being too nice! In many Asian cultures, interdependence and harmony are highly valued. Teams often prioritize agreeableness and cohesion. This creates a supportive work environment. It also leads to challenges like groupthink and innovation stagnation. Problems are not found out early enough. People drag their feet raising critical problems. Agreeable individuals are typically - cooperative - empathetic - prioritize positive relationships. They can result in an avoidance of conflict. Especially if they are unskilled in conversation. This prevents teams from engaging in productive debates essential for innovation and problem-solving. Most people also misunderstand conflict. It does not mean taking out weapons and killing one another. It merely means anything that might be uncomfortable. Even an extravert speaking with an introvert can create some discomfort. One must be willing to hold the space to such interactions. They force you to reconsider long-held (possibly outdated) mental models. Here is the "Harmony Challenge": 🔸 Avoidance of Conflict The avoidance style of conflict management is often associated with increased employee turnover and dissatisfaction. 🔸 Groupthink High levels of agreeableness can lead to groupthink, where consensus often creates inefficiency and poor decision making. 🔸 Reduced Innovation Without conflict to challenge ideas, teams may struggle to innovate or adapt to changing environments So, how do we find the right balance between harmony and constructive conflict? ✅ Encourage Constructive Conflict Training team members in constructive conflict resolution skills can help them engage in healthy debates without damaging relationships. ✅ Diverse Team Composition: Including team members with varying levels of agreeableness can introduce different perspectives and reduce the risk of groupthink. ✅ Leadership Interventions Leaders can foster an environment where dissenting opinions that make sense are valued, and seen as opportunities rather than threats to harmony. If you have too agreeable a team, you will need to build their conversational intelligence in order to balance respectful dissent within your team. I have written about this previously in my LinkedIn Newsletter on Bulletproof Leadership, which I am happy to leave open to critique. https://lnkd.in/gCKNeG3i Meanwhile, as an organizational psychologist, I'm engaging with forward thinking organizational leaders who see the need to grow this new muscle in a time where many wellbeing initiatives seem to only enhance harmony without the subtle balance. Reach out - I'll be happy to share my views in a coffee conversation!

90% of people I talk to say they don’t know how to appear confident when sitting in a meeting. 3 powerful body language tactics I use in every seated meeting to feel & appear confident: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 • Angle your torso directly toward the person you're speaking with (I love swivel chairs over low couches when given the choice) • On Zoom, position your camera so your entire body faces it (not just glancing over)  • If seated at a weird restaurant angle, physically move your chair to face the other person When your toes, torso, and head all point toward someone, they literally feel like you're on the same page. Physical alignment creates psychological alignment. ____ 𝟮. 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 • Keep your hands visible on the table  • Never cross your arms (even when cold)  • Avoid any barriers between you and the other person Research is clear: People with crossed arms are rated as closed, distant, and close-minded. More importantly, researchers found that when people try to generate creative ideas with crossed arms, they produce fewer ideas! Closed body = closed mind. ____ 𝟯. 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 • Use physical proximity to signal interest • Lean in when you like an idea or person ("Wow, tell me more" + lean)  • Mirror your conversation partner's energy  • (fast talker = more gestures, slow talker = slower pace) Mirroring shows respect by matching communication styles. People naturally like those who communicate similarly to them. The lean is your nonverbal way of highlighting interest - it's like physically bolding your words. ____ These tricks do more than make you seem confident - they actually change how you think. When I use these in meetings, press, or podcast interviews, I see immediate differences in how creative and engaged I feel. Try them in your next meeting and watch what happens.

I made one subtle shift that made people instantly respect me in meetings.   Like most people, I previously thought that being the most prepared, speaking first, and dominating the agenda would earn me respect in meetings.   But the harder I tried to prove myself, the less people listened.   I learned this the hard way.   But then I learned about a subtle shift that makes all the difference.   The secret?   👉 Stop trying to fill the room with your voice and start filling it with your presence.   Here’s what actually works:   1/ Own your space ↳ Sit with intention. Lean back slightly instead of forward. ↳ It signals control, not neediness. A calm posture speaks volumes.   2/ Control your pace ↳ Speak slowly. People rush when they feel they need permission to talk. ↳ Slowing down signals authority.   3/ Use strategic silence ↳ Pause not just before answering, but after making a key point. Let your words sink in. ↳ Silence makes people process, and processing builds respect.   4/ Break your ‘nod-and-smile’ habit ↳ Active listening doesn’t mean constant head nodding. ↳ Minimal reactions make people work harder to earn your attention.   5/ Claim the invisible roles ↳ You don’t need to lead the meeting to lead the room. ↳ Be the person who summarises key points, connects ideas, or asks clarifying questions.   Check out the Two-Pager for more detail. What’s the biggest shift here?   Realising that respect is given when you demonstrate, in subtle ways, that you don’t need to chase it.   (People instinctively pick up on that fast.)   So, do you want to be the person others listen to in meetings?   Stop trying to impress.   And start showing you’re already someone worth listening to.   ♻️ Follow Mostyn Wilson and Repost to help others. 📌 Save this post for future reference! __ Want more detailed insights on career success? Try the Atomic Ambition fortnightly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eE287NTG

Communication is much more than just talking. Because people believe your body more than your words. You've probably heard about the “7%-38%-55% rule”. The rule says your communication is formed: ⤷ 7% by your words ⤷ 38% by your tone of voice ⤷ 55% by your body language Except, it's not true. Albert Mehrabian’s famous study is often misinterpreted. It only applies if your words, tone, and body language don't align, and you are talking about how you feel. Like when someone says "I'm fine". But they have an angry tone. And crossed arms. Yet - body language matters a great deal. Because people believe our body more than our words, if the two are in conflict. Like when you look nervous, but say “I’m confident that we end the year strong.” So to communicate at your most effective as a leader, you need to master your body language. Here are 7 practical tips to achieve this: 1️⃣ Mirror the Other Person:  ↳ Mirroring makes others feel understood. 2️⃣ Move Purposefully:  ↳ Avoid pacing or swaying. 3️⃣ Use Open Gestures:  ↳ Avoid crossing arms. 4️⃣ Control Your Facial Expressions:  ↳ Be aware of your expressions. 5️⃣ Maintain Eye Contact:  ↳ Look directly at the person. 6️⃣ Mind Your Posture:  ↳ Stand or sit up straight. 7️⃣ Smile Genuinely:  ↳ Smile warmly. Take your time learning non-verbal cues. You'll connect better with people. And you'll understand others and yourself better. ♻️ Please share with your network. 📌 And follow Oliver Aust for more practical tips on leadership communication.

I watched a team miss a $250,000 opportunity because of a simple communication breakdown As a team dynamic coach working with organizations across industries, I've seen this scenario play out countless times. Recently, a client was struggling to meet client expectations. They had talented individuals, strong expertise, and a clear strategy. Yet something wasn't clicking. After observing their interactions, the issue became clear: they weren't speaking the same language. Their director was focused on timelines and results, communicating in direct, no-nonsense terms. The creative lead communicated through possibilities and relationship-building, often skipping details. Their data analyst shared concerns in complex reports few took time to understand while the client liaison concentrated on maintaining harmony. Different communication styles. Different priorities. All valuable, but completely misaligned. ✅✅ Understanding these four distinct communication styles is transformative for any team: 1. Controllers: Direct, decisive, and results-oriented. They value efficiency and bottom-line impact 2. Promoters: Enthusiastic, imaginative, and people-focused. They thrive on possibilities and building relationships 3. Analyzers: Methodical, detail-oriented, and data-driven. They seek precision and logical solutions, and prefer to thoroughly evaluate before deciding 4. Supporters: Empathetic, patient, and team-focused. They prioritize group harmony and ensuring everyone feels valued. They often ask "How does everyone feel about this approach?" What transformed this team wasn't a new project management system or restructuring. It was awareness of these styles. When I helped them recognize and adapt to these patterns, something remarkable happened. 🌟🌟 The director started providing context behind deadlines. The creative lead documented specific action items. The analyst delivered insights in more accessible formats. The liaison created space for constructive challenges. 🌟🌟 Within weeks, their efficiency improved by 30%. Client feedback turned overwhelmingly positive. And they secured a contract renewal worth three times their previous agreement. This pattern repeats across every successful team I work with. The differentiator isn't talent or resources – it's communication awareness. Understanding your natural style and recognizing others' preferences creates the foundation for exceptional teamwork and professional growth. What's your natural communication style? Sign up for my newsletter for weekly insights on elevating your communication effectiveness: https://www.lift-ex.com/ #communication #team #performance #professionaldevelopment #leadership #cassandracoach

I developed the Story Matrix a few years ago to build literacy about the kinds of stories we encounter in our world. I never did much with this construct. But I think there's something interesting here. I'll talk you through it. The X axis is the MEANING continuum of stories that have "hidden connections" versus "explicit sense making." The Y axis is the PROXIMITY continuum of stories that are "close to your recognizable world" versus "far from your current reality." This creates one of those four-square models that makes my geeky consultant heart happy: 1️⃣ THE REALM OF THE LITERAL. ✔ These are descriptive stories that exist in the present reality with buried sense making. ✔ EXAMPLES include traditional journalism news reports, and much of our daily conversation. ✔ The role of the storyteller is to describe or report on reality – typically with a value for objectivity. ✔ The role of the audience is to assimilate the story and update their current understanding of the world. 2️⃣ THE REALM OF THE ALLEGORICAL. ✔ These are stories that take place in a distant reality and have buried sense making. ✔ EXAMPLES include fairy tales, movies like Star Wars, Greek myths. ✔ The role of the storyteller is to engage and entertain. ✔ The role of the audience is to surrender and trust the story to take them on a journey that they will find rewarding. 3️⃣ THE REALM OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL. ✔ These are stories that take place in the present reality with the connections made explicit. ✔ EXAMPLES include case studies, or the editorial portion of the news. ✔ The role of the storyteller is to editorialize, scrutinize, or judge. ✔ The role of the audience is to analyze and participate in the meaning-making conversation. 4️⃣ THE REALM OF THE ASPIRATIONAL. ✔ These are stories in a distant reality with the connections made explicit. ✔ EXAMPLES include my “Learning Fables” books (or similar, like "Who Moved My Cheese"), religious parables ✔ The role of the storyteller is to suggest connections to the story’s metaphors. ✔ The role of the audience is to continue the work established by the storyteller and draw additional connections between the story and their reality. In this way, the audience becomes an active, co- creator of meaning. So that's the Story Matrix! The utility of this is awareness, and broadening your repertoire of available stories and their uses. Note that much (but not all) of the leadership work I do would fall in the category of the "Transformational." What connects for you?

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." – Peter Drucker After years in this profession, I've developed the ability to quickly assess the mood of my audience—whether they’re enjoying the training, feeling restless, or fully engaged. This skill comes with experience, as over time, we become more adept at reading the subtle cues in body language that reveal the true feelings of those we’re speaking to. Are you able to read the #bodylanguage of the people you're interacting with?🤔 Being a great communicator goes beyond just words—it's about understanding all facets of our interaction with people. One of the most valuable skills in #effectivecommunication is the ability to read #bodylanguage. By paying attention to non-verbal cues, we can gauge the comfort level of the person we’re speaking with and adjust our approach accordingly. A smile, a nod, or even a slight shift in posture can speak volumes. When we understand these signals, we not only create a more comfortable environment but also build deeper connections. Here are a few tips to get better at reading non-verbal cues: ✨Observe #FacialExpressions: Notice micro-expressions like raised eyebrows or a slight frown. These often reveal true emotions that words might not convey. ✨Pay Attention to #Posture: A person’s stance can indicate their level of confidence, openness, or discomfort. ✨Observe #EyeContact: The amount and type of eye contact can reveal interest, trust, or even anxiety. ✨#Listen to #Tone of #Voice: The way words are spoken can change their meaning. A soft tone can show empathy, while a firm one might express confidence. ✨Watch for #Gestures: Hand movements, whether open or closed, can signal whether someone is feeling defensive or engaged By improving our ability to read these #nonverbalcues, we enhance our #communicationskills and develop meaningful interactions. Are there any other tips you would offer for improving the ability to read body language? #CommunicationSkills #BodyLanguage #EffectiveCommunication #Leadership