Trust is the foundation of every successful team.
And while leaders often think trust is built through big gestures — recognition, support, or strategic wins — it is more often shaped by small, daily communication habits.
Across two decades of coaching leaders, I’ve seen the same five communication patterns quietly undermine trust, even among strong teams with collaborative intent.
The good news?
Every one of these habits is fixable once a leader becomes aware of it.
Mistake #1: Over-Explaining
Over-explaining is often rooted in good intentions — you want to provide context, demonstrate thoughtfulness, or avoid being misunderstood.
But too much context creates a different kind of confusion.
When leaders over-explain:
Messages become diluted
Expectations become unclear
The listener becomes overwhelmed
Decisions feel less decisive
Over-explanation signals insecurity, even when unintended.
The fix: Communicate in one clear sentence first.
Then add only what is necessary.
“Here’s what we’re doing. Here’s why it matters. Here’s what I need from you.”
When a leader becomes more concise, the entire team becomes more focused.
Mistake #2: Soften the Message Until it Loses Meaning
Many leaders soften messages because they want to maintain connection or avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
But when clarity gets sacrificed, the message gets lost.
Softened communication often sounds like:
“It’s not a big deal, but…”
“You might want to think about…”
“This may just be me, but I noticed…”
These phrases blur the issue, making accountability impossible.
The fix: Pair compassion with clarity.
Try:
“I care about your success, and I want to be direct. Here’s what needs attention…”
Directness delivered with humanity increases trust — not tension.
Mistake #3: Avoiding the Real Issue
