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The Leadership Dictionary: ‘Clear Communication’ vs. ‘Mysterious Rambling

Writer's picture: Krešimir SočkovićKrešimir Sočković

Communication is the cornerstone of leadership, but you know what else matters? Not sounding like a robot or—worse—like someone who talks endlessly without saying anything meaningful. A good leader knows how to talk, but they also know how to listen.

A bad leader? Well, they’re often the main characters in the coffee-break horror stories. Here are some examples for both inspiration—and caution.


Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Pixabay

Message Clarity

Good Leader: “Team, we have a goal! We need to boost efficiency by 20% over the next three months. Here’s the plan: first, we’ll analyze the processes, then implement three small changes, and finally, track the results. Are you in?”

➡️ Result: The team leaves the room smiling and feeling like they can conquer the world.

Bad Leader: “We need to fix something. Come up with an idea.”

➡️ Result: Confused stares, awkward silence, and someone discreetly Googling “how to improve productivity.”

Active Listening

Good Leader: When an employee raises an issue, the leader listens patiently, nods, and responds: “So, you’re short on tools? Okay, let’s see what we have and how I can help.”

➡️ Result: The employee leaves feeling like they work for a superhero with a cape of empathy.

Bad Leader: “You’re short on tools? I’m short on vacation days—so what?”

➡️ Result: The employee starts considering a transfer to the customer support department.

Feedback

Good Leader: “The presentation didn’t include all the data we needed, but we can fix that. Here’s a format you can use. I know you’ve got great ideas, and next time it’ll be top-notch.”

➡️ Result: The employee thinks: “Wow, my boss not only gave me advice but also encouraged me!”

Bad Leader: “This presentation? Might as well have just sent a bunch of pictures with no text.”

➡️ Result: The employee starts pondering a career change… Maybe tomato farming?

What Makes a Good Leader's Communication Effective?

Clarity: They speak like humans, not like washing machine manuals. -

Empathy: Their message doesn’t feel like “shut up and work” but rather “I’m here for you.” -

Consistency: When they say “the team matters,” they show it—not just with words. -

Humour: Laughter brings people together and makes tight deadlines easier to handle. -

Listening: They know there’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth.

Burger Without Buns?

A leader who doesn’t communicate well can be as dangerous as a GPS constantly yelling, “Make a U-turn at the next intersection!” It’s all about trust and connection. Studies show that teams with leaders who communicate clearly and with a touch of humour perform better. And who doesn’t want to be part of a successful, positive story? If you want to be a leader people respect, be someone who knows how to listen, who can articulate what they want clearly, and—every now and then—someone who can throw in a good joke.

A leader without humour? That’s like burger kebabs without buns — it’s just not right.

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