The Career Skill Everyone Needs: But Most Don't Practice it Enough
Aug 01, 2026
I've been thinking a lot about communication lately.
I've been preparing for my biggest keynote coming up at the end of August at the International Maxwell Conference for about 3,000 from around the globe. And I've spent the last two months immersed in writing my third leadership book. These things have a funny way of reminding you that communication isn't just about speaking well, it's about thinking clearly.
Every sentence forces you to ask yourself, "Is this really what I mean?"
That's why a recent Forbes article caught my attention. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said one of the most important leadership skills professionals can develop is disciplined communication and I think that’s one of the least respected. People think it’s just talking. Why does it matter how I write that email?
Dimon and I believe too many leaders are "sloppy" communicators—not because they don't care, but because they haven't learned to think with enough clarity before they speak or write.
That resonated with me.
After more than 35 years leading television stations, coaching executives, and facilitating strategic planning sessions, I've discovered something similar. Communication problems are rarely communication problems.
They're thinking problems.
When our thinking is scattered, our communication becomes scattered.
When our priorities are unclear, our message becomes unclear.
And when our message is unclear, people fill in the gaps with their own assumptions and that brings nothin but trouble.
That's where misunderstandings begin.
Jamie pointed to an interesting practice at Amazon. Rather than relying on PowerPoint presentations filled with bullet points, Jeff Bezos required leaders to write detailed narrative memos before major discussions. The process forced leaders to organize their thoughts, strengthen their reasoning, and communicate with greater precision.
It's a practice worth considering, don’t you think?
How often do we rush into meetings with half-formed ideas? How many emails have we sent because they were fast instead of because they were clear? How many difficult conversations would go better if we spent ten extra minutes organizing our thoughts first?
I've learned, the hard way, that clarity is one of the greatest gifts a leader can give.
Your team shouldn't have to guess what success looks like. They shouldn't leave meetings wondering what the priorities are. They shouldn't have to interpret what you "really meant."
Clarity builds confidence. Confusion creates frustration.
One idea from the Forbes article that I particularly liked was the "Rule of Three." Instead of overwhelming people with ten ideas, narrow your message to the three most important points.
I've found that principle works in almost every leadership situation. The challenge is it's not easy to do, if you’re anything like me, and you have 10 things you’d like to explore.
Whether you're presenting to a board, coaching an employee, leading a staff meeting, or speaking to a community group, people are far more likely to remember three clear ideas than ten scattered ones.
Before your next important conversation, ask yourself three simple questions:
- What is the one outcome I want from this conversation?
- What are the three most important points people need to remember?
- What action do I want them to take when the conversation ends?
You'll probably discover that communicating well has less to do with finding better words and more to do with organizing better thoughts.
Leadership isn't measured by how much you say. It's measured by how clearly others understand what you say.
Leadership Challenge:
Before your next meeting, resist the temptation to "wing it." Take five minutes to write down the three key messages you want people to remember. You may be surprised how much clearer and more effective your communication becomes.