Podcast Episode: The Key to Leadership Communication

In many workplaces, “conversations” are actually more like broadcasts—leaders talk and teams listen, but real engagement is missing. In others, the dialogue flows freely, ideas are exchanged, and collaboration thrives. In the first instance, leadership talks AT people, while in the other, people talk WITH each other. Particularly in fast-moving environments, it can feel like effective leadership hinges on delivering messages—dictating strategies, giving orders, and requiring answers. Research shows that successful outcomes and organizational endurance come from the quality of the connections between the people working together. Genuine communication builds critical levels of trust that lay a foundation for necessary candor and ensure every voice is heard.

Shifting from monologue to meaningful conversation is more than a cultural imperative. Healthy team dynamics can shape the health of the organization. In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, Chris Kisley joins host Rachelle Kuramoto to share strategies for effective and productive conversations even in resource-constrained and fast-moving companies. Chris is the founder and leader of leadership and organizational development firm Kisley & Wild. She offers decades of experience and perspective on how fast-changing businesses can successfully navigate team dynamics as they evolve—so that they CAN evolve.

Timestamps:

• [02:29] Christina’s entrepreneurship journey running Kisley & Wild
• [03:48] The motivation behind Christina’s transition from corporate to entrepreneurship
• [07:41] Leadership communication:  What ‘Talking at one another’ means
• [10:54] How leaders can avoid ‘Talking at People’ and enhance communication
• [12:37] How to reset a conversation when things start going wrong
• [15:31] Practical tips on how to move past ‘Talking at’ to ‘Talking with’
• [18:55] Managing team dynamics and relationships in a high-growth environment
• [22:26] Case study: The consequences of neglecting people in leadership
• [27:30] Red flags to watch out for when managing team dynamics
• [30:51] Strategies for building cohesion in hybrid and return-to-office workplaces
• [35:57] The one thing you need to become a better communicator in the workplace 

Points of Wisdom:

• “Communication is meant to be two ways, but sometimes we get too excited about what we’re talking about and don’t pay attention to the fact that there is somebody else.” [07:43]
• “If you forget that humans are human beings, not human doing, you can move fast with the work but slow with people.” [10:14]
• “What you invest in is where you will get results; if you don’t invest in people, your results won’t come through people, and people do the work of the company.” [19:29]
• “Ask for feedback to figure out what it feels like to be on the other side; if you don’t ask, you won’t be told.” [35:51]

About Christina Kisley:

‍Christina Kisley is the founder of Kisley & Wild, a Leadership and Organizational Development firm dedicated to transforming how leaders communicate and collaborate to create healthy, scalable work environments. With a career spanning three decades, Christina brings deep expertise as a leadership strategist and executive coach. Her extensive experience has given her a unique understanding of the unique challenges leaders face, and she has a proven track record of helping them turn challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

🎧 Watch or listen to Extraordinary Pursuits.