As a leader, you may hold the title of CEO, CFO, or another role. But make no mistake: you are also the CCO—the Chief Communication Officer.

John Hamm, in his book Usually Excellent, reminds us that “communication is to an organization like water to a garden—it keeps things vital, growing, and healthy.”

Your people want to hear from you. They want to know:

  • Where are we going?
  • How will we get there?
  • What’s really happening?
  • What is my role?

This isn’t new. We all know leaders must clearly communicate intentions and expectations. Yet in my own experience as both a business owner and coach, I’ve learned that most of us aren’t nearly as effective at communication as we think. The real question is: why not?

The obstacles are familiar—too many deadlines, too many meetings, the constant pull of “the tyranny of the urgent.” Sometimes we aren’t clear on expectations. Other times, we simply assume too much.

That’s why I urge you to examine not just your communication skills, but also your listening skills. Busyness can easily drown out focus, making it harder to hear what’s really being said. And listening is every bit as critical to leadership as speaking.

At its core, leadership is about uniting people for a common purpose. That requires credibility—and credibility grows when we communicate with authenticity. When your values and passion come through, people will follow.

And remember: you can’t over-communicate. Step fully into your role as Chief Communication Officer.