April Little’s Post

If you’re not intentional with your communication, you’re leaving your team to guess — and guessing rarely leads to great results. The most expensive misunderstandings in business don’t usually come from bad ideas — they come from unclear communication. As a leader, intentional communication isn’t about talking more. It’s about making sure every conversation serves a purpose. That means: Saying the right things at the right time Listening before reacting Following up so nothing falls through the cracks And here’s something that took me a while to learn — how we communicate with the opposite sex on the job is everything. We process information differently. We hear and respond differently. When we understand that, we can adapt our communication so it lands the way we intend. I wrote a blog post about this concept using the Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti framework — and it changed the way I lead conversations at work. You can read it here: [link to blog] When your communication is intentional, you give your team clarity, confidence, and trust What’s one conversation you’ve been putting off? Start it today, and have it with intention.

In today’s fast-paced life and workplace culture, the lines between communication tools and proper channels are becoming increasingly blurred. This lack of differentiation is quietly becoming the norm. Whether you're selling, handling a complaint, or persuading a colleague, how you express yourself is just as important as what you say. Your Reasons for Writing or Speaking... Before planning your message, take a moment to consider the following: ✅ Should you be writing or speaking to the person concerned? ✅ Are you addressing the right person? You can waste a lot of time being passed from one person to another if you start in the wrong place. A written document could also be lost or ignored if misdirected. 🔍 Why Plan? Planning helps ensure that: ✔ You say everything that needs to be said ✔ Your information is accurate ✔ Your arguments are logically expressed ✔ Your language fits the purpose ✔ You stay objective and avoid being emotional Once you’ve confirmed these points, go further: ➤ Should anyone else be informed? Even the best planning can fall apart if the right people aren't included. ➤ Do you need a reply? If so, make sure to clearly communicate that; otherwise, your message may not get the response you need. 🧭 And finally, reflect on these two key questions: 🔹 What is your purpose in writing or speaking? It may seem obvious, but getting clear on your intention will help you stay focused. 🔹 What do you want to achieve? Knowing your goal will shape how you deliver your message and increase the chances of success. Adapted from A Guide to Good Business Communications by Michael Bennie. #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #EffectiveCommunication #ProjectManagement

Executive Presence: Your Silent Power   In boardrooms, on Zoom calls, and across stakeholder engagements, executive presence is often the unspoken differentiator. It’s not just how you show up, it’s how you make others feel when you do. Executive presence is a blend of clarity, confidence, and credibility. It’s the ability to distill complexity into action. To speak with conviction, even when the answer isn’t obvious. And to create trust—not just through what you say, but how you listen. Here’s what I’ve learned from leading cross-functional teams and shaping governance narratives: Clarity beats charisma: A well-structured message, backed by data and purpose, listening more than speaking, builds more influence than charm alone. Consistency builds credibility: Executive presence isn’t a one-time performance; it’s a pattern of showing up with integrity, staying calm under pressure, confidence without arrogance, and decisiveness in uncertain situations. Empathy is power: The best leaders don’t just command attention; they create space for others to rise. Appearance matters: Cultivate a professional presence both online and offline, ensuring your style aligns with the context and organizational culture.” Whether you're preparing for a board presentation or leading a transformation initiative, executive presence is your silent partner. It’s not about being the loudest voice; it’s about being the most trusted one. #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipStrategy #BoardReadiness #GovernanceExcellence #CEOmindset #StrategicCommunication #OperationalExcellence

Is it just me or does it remind you of a cross-functional interaction? Two people who are supposedly on the same team but there is a simmering tension in every conversation. Teeth are gritted as someone tries to explain their point again, but the other person doesn’t seem to get you. I’ve had a few of those conversations in my time and it’s horrible. To diffuse that tension and actually enjoy your working relationship - so much easier than you think. To get on the same page and make the conversation less charged: 👉🏻 identify and state what the goal of the conversation is (inform, seek advice) 👉🏻 don’t take it personally, their frustration may have nothing to do with you. 👉🏻check understanding - sometimes your words or communication style is different to your colleagues This approach was a game changer for me. Disagreements were no longer stressful but a great way to air opinions and see other perspectives. How do you manage challenging conversations?

Communicate Like an Executive As you step into senior leadership, your communication style must evolve. What used to feel like transparency—casual updates, unfiltered thoughts, or constant idea sharing—can now create confusion, anxiety, or misalignment. At this level, your words carry greater weight, and your silence does too. Recognize that less is often more.  Offhand comments can shift strategy or spark panic. Be deliberate. Distinguish between exploring ideas and making decisions. If you're unsure whether to speak, don’t. Tailor your message.  Ask: Who’s my audience? What do they care about? What do I want them to think, feel, or do? Anchor your communication in these answers. Pause before you speak.  Strong leadership includes impulse control. When you have an idea mid-meeting, write it down. Ask yourself: Will voicing this help or distract? Often, the smartest move is waiting until you're clearer. Frame with intention.  How you say something shapes how it's received. Provide structure and clarity, especially when sharing messy or evolving information. Framing signals direction—even amid uncertainty. Test it first.  Before sharing in high-stakes settings, run your message by a trusted advisor. What’s clear? What’s not? Tighten it. Your confidence will rise, and so will your impact. 

When Communication Breaks, Does Culture? Poor communication isn’t just frustrating; it’s expensive. It shows up in missed deadlines, unresolved conflict, and meetings where no one really listens. It pushes people into silence, burns out your best performers., and kills the kind of bold thinking you need to stay ahead. Most employees were never taught how to: 👂 Listen with real attention 🗣️  Give meaningful feedback 🎤 Speak with presence ⚖️ Navigate tension without avoiding or escalating it Communication is what holds your culture together, It’s how people speak, listen, show up, and respond, every day, in real time. That’s why soft skills aren’t soft; they’re essential. So here’s what I’d love to know: 👉 If your team could master one soft skill overnight, which one would change everything? Drop your answer below. Charlie Krebs Professional Speaker Soft skills are the human side of success. https://lnkd.in/eCijpSfH #culturematters #leadershipskills #softskillsatwork #employeeengagement

The biggest barrier to leadership communication isn’t technology. It’s clarity. We live in an acronym-ridden culture. Sometimes it’s a wonder we even know what we’re talking about. From text-message shorthand to industry jargon, we compress big ideas into a few letters. ✅ Efficient? Sometimes. ⚠️ Confusing? Often. Because communication is already complex. How so? Layers to consider: 🗣 What we say: Are the facts accurate? Is the source credible? What’s fact vs. story? 💬 How we say it: Verbal, email, text—formal or informal. Tone of voice. Tone of email (ALL CAPS, ANYONE? You're yelling at me, right?). 🤔 What we mean vs. what we say: Subtext, emotions, relationships. 👂 How message is received: Past experience, trust, and whether authority for feedback is granted. 👀 Non-verbal cues: Open and engaged, closed and defensive, or neutral. As leaders and managers, we are constantly communicating—whether we realize it or not. And...communication is a two-way street. That’s why, as part of LMA (Leadership • Management • Accountability), being a GREAT COMMUNICATOR is essential to being a GREAT BOSS! Acronyms are fine. Clarity is better. Connecting, really connecting in a meaningful way is where it's at! 📅 To learn more about upping your communication skills, register for the next GREAT BOSS WORKSHOP in Kansas City on October 17th. 🔗 Learn more & sign up: Great Boss Workshop Registration https://lnkd.in/g_EHfxpH

I think all of us have experienced this… That moment when you’re in the meeting and all eyes are on you. Suddenly, it feels like someone’s pointed a spotlight straight at your brain. You thought you had this idea nailed. It sounded sharp in your head this morning - maybe even brilliant in the shower. But now you’re waffling, rambling and losing confidence by the second. That’s what happens when you rely on *hope* instead of structure. What you need is a framework that works under pressure. Something you can turn to when your thoughts are spiraling. That’s where SCCO comes in - a simple, repeatable formula for communicating clearly in meetings: #1: SETTING 👉 Where and how does this idea apply? Help people visualise the moment or environment where your idea lives. Set the scene. #2: CHARACTERS 👉 Who’s involved? What human interaction does this require? Who are the key players? Stakeholders? #3: CONTEXT 👉 What’s the story? Why now? What’s the arc? What are the key moving parts? Lay out the background and rationale. #4: OUTCOME 👉 What happens if it works? Be specific. How will it benefit the team, the customer, the company? Paint a clear picture of success. And please - save the tangents for the Q&A. Once you lose the thread, it’s hard to get it back. Especially when the pressure’s on. Believe me when I say, even the most seasoned pros aren’t winging it at work. So, why are you? 🔔 Want to learn SCCO and other tools to communicate with clarity under pressure? Join my Executive Masterclass on Oct 2nd (virtual, half-day). Designed for leaders, execs, and senior professionals. → Click here for details: https://lnkd.in/eniv98MM ____ Hi, I’m Paul 👋🏼 I’ve helped 500+ leaders and professionals communicate with clarity under pressure. Follow for practical tips that actually work.

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about how you communicate. The right words in your emails can create clarity, build respect, and drive results. We loved these 12 practical tips from Victoria Repa on how top leaders write impactful emails. A must-read for every professional! #Leadership #Communication #EmailEtiquette #AQUEIZNT

more companies should include proper email training as part of the job. the subject line is the most important part and should tell you what the email is about.