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"Delivery and intent come before content."

I watched a presentation last month that should have been brilliant. The content was spot-on, the research was solid, and the recommendations were exactly what the business needed.

It was also a complete disaster!

The presenter - a senior manager with years of experience - delivered it like he was reading the phone book. Monotone voice, no eye contact, zero connection with his audience. By the end, half the room was checking their phones.

Brilliant content, terrible delivery. And guess which one people remembered?

The Content Myth

"Our words can wound or heal. They can inspire someone or reinforce their sense of failure and worthlessness."

Here's the uncomfortable truth about communication: what you say matters far less than how you say it. We've all been in meetings where someone with average ideas gets buy-in because they know how to connect with people. Meanwhile, the person with the best solution gets ignored because they can't communicate it effectively.

I see this everywhere. Technical experts who can't explain their ideas. Managers who think being right is enough. Leaders who wonder why their teams don't engage with their vision.

The problem isn't their expertise - it's their delivery.

The Style Mismatch

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slower to get angry."

Here's what most people miss about communication: it's not about your style, it's about theirs. The way you prefer to receive information isn't necessarily the way your audience needs to hear it.

I worked with a sales director who was losing deals despite having the best product in the market. Turned out he was a detail-oriented person trying to sell to big-picture thinkers. He was drowning them in specifications when they wanted to hear about vision and outcomes.

Once he understood the different communication styles and learned to adapt his approach, his conversion rate doubled.

The Assessment Solution

This is why our What's My Communication Style assessment is one of our most popular tools. It doesn't just tell you how you communicate - it shows you how to communicate with everyone else.

The Interpersonal Influence Inventory takes it even further. It reveals not just your communication preferences, but how you come across to different personality types. Suddenly, you can see why some conversations flow easily while others feel like hard work.

"Listen for inconsistencies between what is being said in words, compared to the content, the delivery style and the intent."

These tools help you spot the gaps between what you think you're communicating and what people are actually hearing.

Beyond the Words

"Your words give life to what you say."

Communication isn't just about the words you choose - it's about the energy you bring, the tone you use, and the connection you create. You can say exactly the right thing in exactly the wrong way and completely miss the mark.

I remember a team leader who was frustrated because his people weren't following his instructions. When we dug deeper, it turned out his tone was so aggressive that people were too intimidated to ask clarifying questions. They'd rather guess and get it wrong than risk another confrontation.

Same words, different delivery, completely different outcome.

The Practical Approach

So how do you become a more effective communicator?

Know your default style... Our communication assessments show you how you naturally communicate and where your blind spots are.

Learn to flex... Understanding different communication styles means you can adapt your approach to what works for each person.

Focus on connection before content... If people don't feel heard and understood, they won't engage with your message.

Get feedback... To understand how your style lands with others.

The Ripple Effect

"People are more willing to listen to those who earn the right to speak."

Here's the beautiful thing about improving your communication: it doesn't just make you more effective - it makes everyone around you more effective too. When you model good communication, you raise the standard for the whole team.

The best leaders I know aren't necessarily the most charismatic speakers. They're the ones who've learned to connect with people in a way that makes them feel heard, understood, and valued.

Ready to transform your communication? Our range of communication assessments and development tools can help you connect more effectively with anyone. Because great leaders aren't just heard - they're understood.

DISCOVER OUR COMMUNICATION RANGE HERE