Leadership Communication: Flexibility

Welcome back to Leadership Communication Insights & Reflections! This week, we’re building on our last topic of self-awareness in communication. Once you understand your communication style (awareness), the next step is to adapt it to the situation and audience. This we like to call Leadership Communication Flexibility.

Let’s dive into two real examples:

In the first, a manager learned through feedback that he was doing 95% of the talking during meetings, leaving his team feeling disengaged. This new awareness was a game-changer. He decided to flex his approach, starting by sending out agendas ahead of time, giving team members—especially those less comfortable speaking up—a chance to prepare. In his “2.0 version,” he intentionally held back his own thoughts to listen first. The result? A boost in morale, trust, and engagement. Suddenly, Monday meetings weren’t so bad!

In another example, an executive director received feedback that her presentations needed trimming. Once she became aware of this, she used a communication tool to streamline her message, focusing on clear, concise delivery. The impact was immediate: her audience felt more engaged, and her points landed with greater precision.

Leadership communication isn’t about sticking to one style—it’s about knowing when to adapt. Flexibility allows you to connect, inspire, and lead with impact.

A final thought for you is this.. What’s one way you have adapted your style to suit your team?

Stay tuned for more insights as we explore the essential themes of communication, leadership, and executive coaching.