We Can Work It Out: The Leadership Skill That Changes Everything

“Life is very short, and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.” —The Beatles

That line might’ve been about love, but it hits just as hard at work.

If you’re managing a team, trying to gain influence, or just trying to survive the chaos of mid-level leadership, you already know that communication can make or break everything.

Whether you’re navigating tension on your team, presenting ideas to your boss, or just trying to get people on the same page, how you communicate matters. A lot.

But here’s something many managers overlook:

Good communication isn’t just about what you say, it’s also about how well you read the room.

That means picking up on tone, body language, silence, stress, and even the things that aren’t said out loud. Emotional intelligence plays a huge role here. When you can tune into how others are communicating, you can lead with empathy, adjust your approach, and build trust faster.

What Is Communication Really?

At its core, communication is the act of transferring information, ideas, or knowledge from one person to another. But it’s more than just words. Effective communication includes:

• Verbal: what you say and how you say it

• Non-verbal: tone, pace, facial expressions

• Visual: charts, slides, whiteboards, emails

• Body language: posture, eye contact, gestures

And it doesn’t live in a vacuum. It’s part of your broader interpersonal skill set, your ability to interact, collaborate, and connect meaningfully with others.

Why It Matters (More Than You Think) Poor communication isn’t just annoying. It’s expensive.

In 2024, U.S. companies are projected to lose over $1.2 trillion because of poor interpersonal communication. That includes lost productivity, high turnover, missed opportunities, and damaged customer relationships.

Here’s how that plays out:

📉 Decreased Productivity - Miscommunication leads to confusion, repeated work, and wasted time. One study found it costs companies an average of 7.47 hours per employee every week.

👋 Higher Employee Turnover - Poor communication creates frustration, overwhelm, and disengagement. That leads to good people walking out the door. Replacing just one employee can cost up to 2x their annual salary.

😠 Damaged Customer Relationships - 66% of customers say they’ve left a company due to poor communication. That’s not just about frontline support, it can include missed updates, inconsistent messaging, or unclear expectations.

💸 Financial Losses Across the Board - Between delays, misunderstandings, and lost opportunities, communication breakdowns cost companies a staggering amount every year.

What This Means for You

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or like you’re constantly playing catch-up, you’re not alone. Most mid-level leaders were never taught how to communicate as leaders.

But this is the turning point. Because once you build these skills, everything gets easier, from managing your team to influencing decision-makers. Below are eight key skills that will help you communicate clearly, manage confidently, and lead with trust, not tension.

8 Communication-Based Skills Every Leader Needs

1. Coaching - Coaching is all about asking instead of telling. This style of communication helps your team grow, solve problems, and build accountability without being micromanaged.

2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) - EQ is your ability to recognize emotional and interpersonal cues and respond effectively. It helps you stay steady under pressure, read the room, and lead with empathy.

3. Critical Thinking - Strong communicators don’t just talk, they think. Critical thinking helps you analyze situations, structure your message, and communicate with clarity and intention.

4. Conflict Resolution - Disagreements are inevitable. The way you communicate during conflict, whether you escalate, de-escalate, or resolve, shapes your reputation more than you might think.

5. Influence in Organizations - Influence is the ability to gain support and drive action, whether you’re managing up, down, or across. It’s built on clarity, trust, and consistency in how you show up.

6. Negotiation - Every workplace includes negotiation. Whether you’re setting deadlines, resolving issues, or balancing priorities, knowing when to collaborate, compromise, or hold firm is key.

7. Delegation - Delegation is more than handing off tasks, it’s communicating expectations clearly, providing context, and trusting your team to follow through.

8. Managing Through Change - Change causes uncertainty. Your communication can either add to the noise or help your team navigate with clarity and confidence.

You Can Work It Out

The best part? These are all learnable skills. And once you develop them, you’re not just improving how you communicate, you’re improving how you lead.

If you’re ready to go from overwhelmed and unsure to clear, confident, and trusted as a leader, this is where you start.

🎯 Download the free Manager’s Guide to Success for self-assessments, quick tips, and simple practices you can start using today.

Because great leadership starts with better communication, and yes, you really can work it out.​