Everyone Thinks They're Speaking English – In Truth, That's Not The Case

I wish someone had told me earlier in my career that the way you like to receive information is probably not how everyone else wants to receive it.

Many leaders assume communication is about what they say.

The best leaders know it's about what the other person hears.

Some people love directness:

"What's the goal? What's the deadline? Let's move."

Others need details:

"Can you walk me through the process and show me the data?"

Some thrive on connection:

"How will this affect the team?"

And then there are those who light up when you give them room to share ideas:

"What if we tried this instead?"

The funny part?

Most workplace conflicts aren't caused by bad intentions.

They're caused by two people speaking different communication languages , while both think they're speaking English.

So, here's the leadership twist nobody talks about enough:

Adapting your communication style isn't being fake.

It's being fluent.

The best leaders don't have one gear.

They know when to be direct, when to slow down and connect, when to bring receipts, and when to paint a picture.

They read the room.

They meet people where they are.

And they get dramatically better results because of it.

So next time a conversation goes sideways, ask yourself:

Am I communicating in my preferred style… or in theirs?

That question alone has saved more relationships, meetings, and Monday mornings than I can count. <<<

Which type do you work with best, the "just give me the bottom line" person or the "let's align the whole team first" person?

BISOLA MOGAJI