7 Things I’ve Learned About Communication at Work

If I had a dollar for every time I sat in a meeting thinking, “Wow… this could have been done in an email,” I’d probably have my own private jet by now. Over the years, I’ve had a front-row seat to communication faux pas in just about every environment you can imagine: the classroom, the boardroom, and the war room (well, not really, but the military musician equivalent of a war room…). And let me tell you, there are certain truths that are universal when it comes to communication…at all levels.

Today you’re getting my (slightly) tongue-in-cheek (but also very real) take on what I’ve learned about communication at work.

1. Having the title of “manager” doesn’t automatically make you a good leader.

Don’t come for me on this. If you have been in the workplace for more than 5 minutes, you know just how true it is. Just because you have the title doesn’t mean your team looks at you and thinks, “Wow, what a visionary leader!” More often than not, they’re thinking, “Can this guy just stop talking already?” This is astutely evident in the military where rank comes with leadership responsibilities. But all too often, especially in fast-promoting occupational specialties (like musicians), that rank comes much faster than the skills and training needed to be a leader that people want to follow.

Unfortunately, in the military, you have no choice but to take the leaders you get and keep on trucking. But in the civilian world, you can always leave your job for a different one or at least complain to HR and have a glimmer of hope that something will change. (You could also meet your boss out back to duke it out…)

 Leadership isn’t about giving orders or touting one’s authority. It’s about listening, guiding, and brace yourself, communicating in a way that inspires action instead of fear.

 I have had some pretty terrible managers over the last 26 years of working, and I have also had some damn good leaders. The bad ones hold no space in my head anymore. But the good ones? I’d still march to battle with them. 

2. Communication is a multiway street

Forget the tired saying “communication is a two-way street.” It’s not. It’s a five-way intersection with broken stoplights leading to a Paris-style roundabout no one knows how to navigate, and that one person who refuses to use their blinker.

 The truth is: communication isn’t just about what you say or how you say it. It’s about what is heard, understood, and acted on. You can send the most beautiful email or give the most eloquent presentation, but if the other person walks away confused, you didn’t really accomplish anything…you may have even caused the opposite of what you wanted to happen.

In order to navigate the spaghetti bowl that is communication and interpretation, you have to speak in clear language, ask for confirmation that your words are understood (when possible), and then reiterate what you said/expect so that there is no question what you meant.

3. Tact matters (a lot)

Here is the truth about direct communication: it is effective. But direct communication without tact is a disaster. It is all in the delivery. You might be able to give clear instructions, but if you are an ass when you deliver it, no one will want to do what you said.

You can tell your coworker, “That’s wrong,” or you can say, “I see where you’re coming from—what if we tried this instead?” Both get your point across, but only one avoids a side-eye across the break room for the next three months.

Tact is the secret ingredient that makes even tough conversations palatable. It’s not sugarcoating—it’s respect. Remember, tact is more effective than toxicity.

4. Overexplaining is just as bad as underexplaining

Ah yes, the classic meeting where the speaker gives you 47 PowerPoint slides and you still walk away with more questions than answers. On the flip side, there’s the leader who says, “Just figure it out.” Neither is helpful. Elaborate as needed but don’t keep rambling just because you like the sound of your own voice.

Effective communication lives in the middle ground: enough detail to create clarity, but not so much that people tune out and start scrolling Amazon under the table. It also lives in understanding when an in-person meeting is needed and when an email or written memo (do those even exist anymore??) is sufficient.

5. Humor goes further than you think

I once had a manager who began every meeting with a dad joke. Some were cheesy, some were actually funny, but here’s the thing—it set the tone. He also always started by asking us how we were doing or if we had anything exciting to share. People relaxed, they paid attention, and suddenly sitting in a meeting didn’t feel too bad and collaboration didn’t feel like pulling teeth.

Humor, when used with care, is a communication superpower. It reminds people that we’re all human, even in the stiffest of boardrooms. Humor is also underused. It is my firm belief that humor is a leavening agent. When we can bring laughter to the forefront, the overall mood of the moment rises, people relax, and they tune in. 

6. The real magic is in the follow-up

Here’s the dirty little secret no one tells you: saying something once isn’t enough. If you want to be understood, remembered, or have people respond in some way, you need to follow up with them. Reiterate, clarify, check in.

Think of it like teaching in a classroom: you don’t explain fractions once and expect everyone to ace the test. You revisit it, you answer questions, you test for understanding. You teach it in different ways and with different examples.

The same goes for the workplace. Because we are human, we tend to communicate and respond in different ways. While one person might be fine with a verbal explanation of something, another might need a more hands-on approach or clarification. Good communication requires patience and an acknowledgement that everyone communicates in their own way.

7. Workplace communication makes you a better speaker (yes, really)

Here’s the part most people overlook: the same skills you practice at work—clarity, tact, humor, leadership, follow-up—are the same ones that make you a strong speaker.

If you’ve ever had to lead a team meeting, smooth over a tense coworker conflict, or explain something complicated in a way that makes sense, congratulations! You’ve already been rehearsing public speaking without realizing it.

That’s why so many of my clients step onto a stage convinced they’ll fall flat, only to realize they’re far better speakers than they thought. They’ve been practicing all along just by going to work, navigating their relationships, and living their lives. The stage just shines a brighter light on skills they’ve already built.

At the end of the day, communication isn’t about titles, emails, or how loud your voice carries in the meeting room. It’s about connection. It’s about making sure people feel seen, heard, and respected—whether you’re wrangling 6th graders, motivating a corporate team, or ordering a platoon of Marines to attention.

So, the next time you find yourself in a “communication breakdown,” remember: lead with clarity, sprinkle in some tact, and never underestimate the power of a good joke. And if you’re worried about public speaking? Relax, you’ve already been preparing for this moment every single day at work.

If you are ready to learn more about communication and speaking than you thought you needed to know, click HERE to book a free call with me! 

Chat soon!