Basic Concept #34: Communicate
You can’t do good work in silence.
You might think your intentions are clear. That people know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, or what you expect from them. But unless you tell them, they don’t. And even if you told them once, they probably forgot.
That’s not a flaw. It’s reality.
The Assumption Trap
People are busy. Their attention is limited. Their filters are different from yours. In the absence of clarity, they fill in the gaps with assumptions that rarely help you.
And assumptions are the mother of all fuck ups.
When you don’t speak, others start guessing: Are you aligned? Are you stuck? Are you even aware of the situation?
If you’re in a leadership role, your silence doesn’t just confuse, it sets the tone. People mirror what they see. If you’re unclear, they hesitate. If you’re distant, they stop reaching out. If you’re vague, they improvise.
The Four Types of Communication
Most communication problems come from mixing these up or skipping them entirely.
Status updates tell people where things stand, what’s moving, what’s stuck. “We’re on track for Friday delivery, pending final review.” Simple progress information that keeps everyone aligned.
Expectations clarify what you need, when you need it, how it should work. “I need your input on budget allocation by Thursday so we can finalize before the board meeting.” Clear requests with context and timing.
Context explains why decisions matter, how pieces connect, what success looks like. “This change affects Q4 planning, so we’re prioritizing accuracy over speed.” The bigger picture that enables good judgment.
Signals provide early warnings, shifts in direction, changes in priority. “Client feedback is trending negative on feature X. We might need to pivot.” Information that helps others adjust their approach.
The Strategic Framework
Communicate before you need to. Don’t wait until people are confused or behind. Share direction when you see it, not when it’s urgent.
Communicate more than feels necessary. What feels like over-communication to you is usually the right amount for everyone else. People need repetition to absorb and act.
Communicate the why, not just the what. Context prevents misunderstanding and enables good judgment when situations change.
Communicate your process. Let people see how you work, what you’re considering, where you are in your thinking.
What Good Communication Looks Like
“I’m seeing three options here. Leaning toward B because of the timeline, but want to hear your thoughts on the risk trade-offs.”
“Quick update: legal review is taking longer than expected. Still targeting Monday, but flagging Tuesday as backup.”
“Before we dive in, here’s what I’m optimizing for: speed to market over feature completeness.”
“I’m stuck on the pricing model. Can we talk through scenarios before I make the call?”
Notice: no performances, no speeches. Just clear sharing of information that helps others work with you effectively.
Why This Is Strategic
Communication isn’t a soft skill. It’s an influence tool. People who communicate well get more support, clearer feedback, and better outcomes. They build trust through transparency and reduce friction through clarity.
Teams that communicate well move faster because they waste less time on confusion and rework. They make better decisions because information flows freely.
The Bottom Line
Don’t assume people can read your mind. Don’t wait until silence becomes a problem. Don’t mistake communication for performance.
Share where you are, what you’re solving for, what you need. Do it clearly, regularly, and without noise.
That’s not being overly talkative. That’s being professional.
This is not just about being “open.” A well-placed comment, a clear summary, or an honest signal: these are real tools. And they shape how you’re perceived more than any performance review.
Don’t wait until people are confused or expect others to read your mind. Don’t assume silence will be interpreted as calm. Tell people what you’re solving, where you are, what you see, what you need. Do it clearly and without noise.
And do it more often than feels necessary because that’s usually the right amount.