#176 | Strategic Communication for Leaders Brenda Bailey Hughes
November 19, 2024
Effective communication is crucial for leaders. Here’s something that might sound familiar: You’re in a meeting and you have a problem to solve. You and a few others leaders spend hours brainstorming and come up with the perfect plan. You leave the room energized and excited but the second you share with other’s who weren’t in that room your great idea loses steam, others on the team don’t agree with the solution. Brenda Bailey Hughes, a phenomenal communication expert, joined us to share how we can communicate more clearly and effectively so we can avoid this common mistake.
Just like the childhood game “telephone”, where a message gets distorted as it’s passed along, we can end up with diluted ideas if we’re not careful. Brenda recommends sharing messages directly from the leader whenever possible and even repeating yourself for clarity. She also touched on the importance of listening and what that really means.
I loved her tip on the “magic of three.” People remember things better in sets of three – so next time you’re communicating an important message, focus on three main points. The research backs that more than that and people will get lost in the message. Remember to structure your message using “what, why, how” to keep it concise and powerful.
I loved how Brenda broke down scenarios we all face and how to tackle them, from navigating a conversation where you’re asked to keep it secret when it doesn’t feel right, to how to navigate a team that avoids conflict. If you’re ready to up your communication at work, you’ll find these strategies super helpful, I know I did. I’m excited to make my interactions more engaging and clear, one convo at a time! I hope you’ll join me!
Want To Skip Around? Timestamps:
13:55 How to keep your message simple
17:22 What do you do when someone isn’t listening
26:50 The small shift to make before going into a meeting
28:40 A big red flag in leadership
35:00 How to manage nonconflict
41:20 Brenda’s resources and homework to improve communication
Links Mentioned:
Books:
Check Out Ed Battista’s Blog
Homework: Do an email audit – go through your sent folder and see if you communicate with the “what, why, how” framework Brenda recommends.
If You Loved Today’s Episode:
1.) You should check out this episode Strategies for Effective Communication at Work
2.) Sign up for notes at copymyhomework.com for a full list of resources, links and recommendations listed on today’s episode.
3.) Post a screenshot of the episode & tag me on LinkedIn or Instagram @kimkaupe so we can talk about your favorite parts!
4.) Leave a positive review on any podcast platform (shameless, but someone’s gotta say it right?!)
5.) Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app.
Connect with me over on the socials!
Instagram + TikTok: @kimkaupe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimkaupe/
Want To Learn More With Me?: Check out my LinkedIn learning courses here.
Share: If you enjoyed this, please share with others by clicking on the social icons below…
Every Wednesday at 1pm EST on LinkedIn, you and I are going to talk about everything from business and entrepreneurship to career and mindset with industry leaders, experts, founders & CEO’s.
Tune in
