How to communicate like a leader (even if you're not one yet)

Editorial Team
Oct 27
4 min read

When first starting out in a career, many fall into a trap of silence. They’re surrounded by others harboring far more experience–and far louder voices. Some even believe offering ideas, feedback, and other types of communication are reserved for those with an impressive title or a certain amount of experience. However, leadership isn’t merely about position—it’s about presence.

Further, leadership communication is less about authority and more about influence. It’s the ability to speak with clarity, confidence, and empathy. These skills inspire trust and motivate action from your team. Whether you’re a a new employee or someone aiming for their next big step, learning to communicate like a leader sets you apart long before your business card displays a leadership title.

Why is communication important?

Strong communication is the backbone of leadership. It shapes how others perceive your credibility and competence. It also encourages an atmosphere of teamwork and efficiency. When you communicate effectively, you build relationships, reduce misunderstandings, and influence outcomes–all of which are key elements of leadership at any level.

Beyond building trust, communication is essential to effective employee management, retention, and team success. Conversely, poor communication in the workplace can lead to decreased employee engagement and a drop in satisfaction. In fact, a recent poll showed 86% of employees cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main cause of workplace failures.

Employees yearn for good, open communication with their workplaces leaders, they’re often disappointed—and that can impact their trust in leadership. As Forbes recently reported, poor communication is chipping away at the trust of nearly 45% of employees. The takeaway is this: those who invest time in improving their communication will stand apart from the crowd and have more to offer their team and organization.

These 6 actionable tips aim to help you communicate like an effective leader.

How to communicate like a leader

1. Listen first, speak second

If you’re looking to communicate like a leader, you must listen like a leader. Great leaders listen to understand, not to respond. They focus on what’s being said and the underlying purpose of the message. Focusing on listening during conversations is active listening and a tremendous way to improve communication. In fact, active listening has been found to be the key to avoiding miscommunication and mitigating the damage it can cause.

What’s more, active listening shows respect and builds trust. Make sure to maintain eye contact, avoid interruptions, and ask questions to cultivate a deeper understanding. The more you understand a situation, the better you’re able to provide guidance and encourage success.

2. Practice empathy

Leaders who inspire do so by balancing authority with empathy. Empathy is crucial to communication–especially within the workplace. It’s so important, in fact, that it was ranked as the second most important trait a boss could possess.

What does empathy look like in the workplace? It’s acknowledging feelings, putting ourselves in others’ shoes, and offering support. Empathy in communication can also mean pausing to reflect on the needs your team members are expressing–verbally and non-verbally. It means setting aside your own opinions or perspectives and shifting to a more open mindset. Whether you’re a seasoned workplace leader or setting your sights on your first leadership position, improving your ability to empathize is a must.

3. Focus on avoiding attitudinal barriers

Attitudinal barriers are mental blocks stemming from one’s personal assumptions and attitudes. These barriers develop throughout our lives and are shaped by both internal and external experiences.

An example of an attitudinal barrier is egocentrism—focusing only on yourself and self-pertaining information in a conversation. This may manifest as interrupting in a conversation, speaking over another, or bringing a conversation back to yourself. When we avoid manifesting our own attitudinal barriers and, instead, stay mindful of others, we open the door to true and honest communication. We can push past barriers that tend to skew or hinder conversations and create an opportunity for open communication.

4. Be concise and communicate with a purpose

Have you ever taken part in a conversation that seemed to be nothing more than ‘fluff’--the message blurrier by jargon and buzzwords? Effective leaders are clear and concise with their communication. They don’t hide behind jargon or rambling explanations. They convey what they need to in a clear, direct way. Likewise, they don’t bombard their teams with frequent communications that have no real purpose. If you want to communicate like a leader, focus on communicating clearly when necessary. How is this done? Before speaking or writing, ask yourself: What’s the key takeaway? How can I deliver this message clearly and avoid misinterpretations? Clarity communicates confidence and earns respect.

5. Use “we” instead of “I”

Leadership communication should be inclusive, aiming to engage every member of the team. To help foster this inclusivity, use “we” rather than “I” and “you”. That can build a shared identity and sense of teamwork. This shift in voice subtly encourages collaboration. As a leader or aspiring leader, inclusivity and teamwork should be your focus anytime you communicate. Cultivating a spirit of teamwork and collaboration in your workspace is especially important today as employee engagement has declined over 20% last year alone.

6. Pay attention to non-verbal communication

Recent studies suggest non-verbal communication carries between 65% and 93% more impact than the spoken word. Body language, for instance, is extremely important when communicating. Imagine the message you might be conveying simply by crossing your arms or not maintaining eye contact during a conversation. What’s more, the message you’re trying to share may get lost or be undermined by your body language. Evaluate the subliminal messages your body language and facial expressions. Body language is so important that, according to psychologists, these nonverbal gestures are often what validate or invalidate our message. Focus not only on what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it.

No matter what position you currently hold, communication is important. Communicating like a leader isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up with empathy, integrity, and respect. Effective leaders listen intentionally, reflect purposefully, and speak directly. Good communication can inspire trust in those around you. The best part? You don’t have to wait for a promotion to start leading with your words—you can begin today, exactly where you are.