Advice Post: 15 Common Executive Communication Problems (And How To Fix Them) (2023)

One of the biggest challenges as a leader is communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders. Even the most competent executives can sometimes struggle to communicate with their customers, teams and managers. However, the key to successful leadership is to improve your communication skills and learn how to get your message across clearly.

To help, we asked members ofForbes Coaches Councilwhat common communication problems they see among leaders. Here are 15 problems they discovered and how they recommend correcting and overcoming them.

1. Not communicating the "why".

Leaders not only need to communicate the “what,” but also the “why.” Communicate why this decision is in the best interest of the company's future, why/how this decision aligns with the company's vision, and why this decision is necessary now. Over time, consistency of “why” will become ingrained in the culture, empowering people at all levels to make better decisions. -Denise Muehlen,Das LeaderFuel Center LLC

2. Speak before listening

Create three to five clear questions that you must have answered so that you can serve your customers at the highest level. Ask key questions and then listen carefully as they answer. Being customer focused with your impeccable listening skills allows for complete synergy with your communication. The greatest leaders ask the best questions, so find out which questions to ask. -Marlo Higgins,Marlo Higgins, Ihr Chief Inspirational Officer

Forbes Coaches Councilis an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches.Am I Qualified?

3. Have one-way conversations

Communication is often one-way. Leaders tend to communicate what they think is important, often forgetting about their audience's needs and expectations. Think ahead and be curious about the other person's style. Others need facts and data, an emotional story or an analogy? Assertive communication means listening to one another, respecting one another, and sharing one another's expectations and needs. -Hieronymus Zeyen,InsightPersonnel Consulting

4. Avoid difficult conversations

The biggest communication challenge I see in leaders is avoiding difficult conversations. It's so difficult to engage in critical conversations. Few leaders exercise the skills required and I see so much fear as a result. If we don't say it, we negotiate it. We need leaders who have the courage to let people know where they stand and show they invest in their success. -Sheryl Lyon,Culture Spark LLC

5. Not showing the listener the benefit

Effective communication has the power to transform and deepen relationships, while ineffective communication can lead to a toxic stew of anger or resentment. To captivate an audience and persuade them to take action or see something your way, your message should always have value and relate directly to their own personal needs or desires. Make your message about them, not you. -G. Riley Mills,Pinnacle Performance Company

6. Telling instead of sharing

Leaders need to stop telling and start sharing. Sharing means you're more likely to have an open, honest, and authentic moment with your team(s). Most leaders, however, fall into the narrative trap usually fueled by an agenda. People don't want your agenda—they want you, so come across as a person, not a poster child. If necessary, share what you are working on to build trust. -Erin Urban,UPPSolutions, LLC

7. Sounding inauthentic

The most common communication problem faced by executives is that their communication does not sound authentic. They do not understand or take into account that the contract between employer and employee has changed. The team they lead will most likely not get the same raises, training or career opportunities. Leaders need to focus on improving their contextual intelligence. -Tracy Levine,Advantage Talent, Inc.

8. Not communicating enough

A common complaint from employees is that managers don't communicate enough. Managers are often surprised by this because they feel like they are constantly communicating. In my experience, the breakup stems from a leader believing that because they talk about something frequently, the message is getting out to everyone who needs to hear it. Instead, adopt a more structured plan. -Cheryl Tschach,Cheryl Czach Coaching and Consulting, LLC

9. Failure to communicate feelings and vulnerabilities

Many leaders are reluctant to communicate feelings, pain points, and areas where they need support. When you communicate authentically as a leader, you model that behavior for others and create an environment where everyone feels free to communicate and support one another. Leadership is professional, but it doesn't have to be soulless. -Tony Echols,flourish

10. Suppose you know people's communication preferences

Don't assume that the communication preferences of the people you lead match your own. You must communicate in a way that resonates with the recipient of the information. Some styles want you to be to the point, while others require you to be more detailed and specific. Match your style to that of the person you are communicating with to ensure the message is clear. -David Galowitz,Terra Company Leadership LLC

11. Sharing information instead of actually communicating

Communication is often misunderstood as the exchange of information. The secret many business leaders overlook is that evoking emotion is the best exchange. We know this implicitly, which is why we choose tone and words consciously. But this idea is explicitly lost. The next time you have an important conversation, think about how you want someone to feel before you think about what to say. -Kristin Johnson,Logos Advisory Group

12. Not checking your own prejudices

Check your prejudices at the door. We all have preconceived notions that are a barrier to learning and obtaining information for better decision-making. Executives need to recognize and review their auditory distortions and approach conversations with a novice mentality instead. Be open to information and ideas that may not support your initial beliefs or decisions. -Aaron Levy,raise the level

13. Lack of transparency

Some leaders lack transparency. Keeping information on a need-to-know basis hurts everyone. Trust is built on understanding. Let your teams know why you made the change or promoted someone. By giving them access to your thought process, they can serve the company and customers better and be better employees. Those who disagree with your thinking will never serve as well. -Candice Gottlieb Clark,Dynamic team solutions

14. Sharing of meaningless messages

There's an interesting conflict going on right now. Employees say they get too much communication and at the same time not enough. Here's the secret: "Too much" communication means meaningless media - videos, flyers, etc. "Not enough" communication means your employees are asking for more meaning or authentic, honest, and vulnerable plain language. Do more of this and it will instantly improve your communication. -Darcy Eikenberg, PCC,Red Cape Revolution

15. Automatically believing everyone understands them

The biggest problem we see is that once a person is given a title, they automatically believe that they are a great communicator and that everything they say or write is easy to understand. Communication is a manager's most important tool. Therefore, take the time to learn how best to communicate across all mediums and media to ensure understanding. -Shane Green,SGEI