Poor Communication at Work

Why It’s Still Undermining Performance — And What HR Can Do About It

Poor communication at work doesn’t happen because people are careless. We get it because they haven’t been shown what good leadership communication looks like at the right level.

When someone moves into a managerial or senior role, the communication rules change dramatically. However, most leaders are never told this. Instead, they keep speaking the way they always have — quick updates, peer-level dialogue, task-driven talk.

But leadership communication? That’s an entirely different language.

From Peer to Leader: The Shift No One Talks About

At higher levels, communication has to slow down. It must become more thoughtful, intelligent, and strategic. A good leader doesn’t just give direction — they build clarity, alignment, and trust. Without this shift, workplace communication issues compound.

That means:

Listening more than talking.
Asking before advising.
Tuning into team signals.
Blending influence, empathy, and coaching into everyday conversations.

When I work with leadership teams, I always ask: “How do you know you’ve been heard?”

If a leader can answer that clearly — and has strategies to ensure it happens — they’re already miles ahead. Because that question reveals whether someone is paying attention to how others experience them. That’s what we coach.

Poor Communication at Work Isn’t Always Quiet

In many cases, poor communication at work can be loud, scattered, urgent, and tactical. Sure, it may get the job done. However, it doesn’t build the team.

Great communication looks very different. It’s slower and more strategic because it’s rooted in coaching and conversation — not just instructions and urgency.

Start by asking. Then truly listen. Ask again with intention. Follow up with thoughtful feedback, and move forward using clear, constructive feedforward. These are the loops that build trust and transform how teams function.

And the truth is, team building is communication building.

The Missing Link: Communication as a Leadership Capability

HR leaders want better collaboration, stronger culture, and higher engagement. But if communication remains untrained — or left to chance — performance stays patchy.

That’s where coaching for managers becomes a direct solution to poor communication at work.

We teach leaders how to:

Shift from tactical updates to strategic conversations
Build emotional intelligence into their daily interactions
Use coaching tools to communicate across levels and functions
Handle tension without avoidance or micromanagement

As a linguist and a coach, I hear patterns most people miss. Once I trained in NLP, I could immediately recognise the language of leadership — and the language of disconnection.

It’s a structure. And you can learn it.

So, What Can HR Do?

The most important question I’d encourage any HR or People Leader to ask is this:

“Is our leadership team ready to learn a new language of communication?”

Ultimately, we’re talking about solving poor communication at work with smarter strategies and coaching tools. A shift from fast talking to intentional leading. A culture where curiosity and clarity replace assumptions and urgency. Coaching conversations change everything.

Coaching is the vehicle. Communication is the outcome.

Ready to Build a Culture of Real Communication?

If you’re tired of sticky team dynamics, inconsistent messaging, and conversations that don’t land — let’s talk.

We can install a coaching culture that brings:

Respectful communication
Curiosity across the organisation
A new awareness of what others need, mean, and miss

It’s fast when you know the tools — meaning, mindset, language patterns, and skilled coaching.

Let’s help your team speak the language of leaders.

🔗 Book a free discovery call
🔗 Learn about Leadership Coaching
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn

Meet the executive coach behind this article, based in Dublin, coaching globally.