October 16, 2025

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

The Captain in Cool Hand Luke 1967

One of the most impactful movies I saw as a kid was “Cool Hand Luke .” If you are not a boomer, Google it or search YouTube. In the movie Prisoner, Luke, played by Paul Newman, refused to comply with orders and spoke back. The Captain used the excuse “What we have here is a failure to communicate” as justification for being abusive. “

That Captain used poor communication to be abusive and controlling. What he really meant was ‘do it my way,’ a tactic we see in today’s low-road leaders.

The Captain’s words ring true in many organizations today. We have a failure to communicate. My bet is you have experienced failures in communication in many facets of your life — from work to school to home.

This Thursday’s Leadership Insight is the first of a multi-part series on communication. We will consider today the current state of communication in our organizations — from the family to multinationals—and the cost of poor communication, as well as the benefits of supercommunication. This article will conclude with a description of what a supercommunicator looks like and an overview of the series.

In the context of today’s rapidly changing, volatile workplace, organizational leaders have many more changing roles and expectations than they did in the past. Today’s leaders must be super communicators. In every organization, communication isn’t just a skill; it’s the lifeline of leadership, organizational success, and sustainability. Communication is a leadership capacity. Harvard Business Review describes capacity as a vertically developing, interwoven set of awareness, specific skills, understanding of communication styles, and personal and social awareness of self and others, enabling better connection and stronger relationships with those they serve.

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In all organizations, there is a substantial cost to poor communication. It quietly drains organizations of time, money, and morale. The Axios HQ 2025 Report found that ineffective communication costs $54,860 per senior employee annually and results in 63 workdays lost per year. Broader studies reveal staggering national costs—Sociabble reports that U.S. companies collectively lose $1.2 trillion each year due to miscommunication.

Beyond dollars, the cultural toll is steep: 63% of employees consider leaving their jobs because of poor communication. According to the HR Vision Event Report, unclear expectations lead to rework, failed projects, and damaged reputations, resulting in $26,000 in lost per-employee revenue each year.

In Gallup’s 2025 study release today, the American Job Quality Study communication is an underlying factor. The first report in the study is based on a survey of more than 18,000 U.S. workers across industries, demographics, and employment types, establishing a national benchmark for job quality and laying the groundwork for future reports. The findings show that only 40% of U.S. workers hold “quality jobs” — those that offer fair pay and benefits, safe and respectful workplaces, opportunities for growth, a voice in decision-making, and sustainable schedules. Quality jobs are linked to higher satisfaction and well-being.”

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Leaders who communicate effectively connect purpose to action, vision to behavior, and people to one another. Studies and leadership experts consistently show that effective communication is one of the most essential predictors of organizational success, engagement, and trust.

Effective communication is the lifeblood of leadership and a critical capacity that must be intentionally and continually developed and refined. For leaders, mastering communication is not just a personal asset; it is a catalyst for organizational success, trust, and engagement—it is a lifeline. However, Communication concerns are at the top of the list of employee concerns. A recent TEAM Newsletter 10 Leadership Issues in the Workplace cited communication barriers as the #1 leadership issue in the workplace. The authors note, “Effective communication is crucial for any leader to engage and motivate their team. However, communication barriers such as language differences, cultural variations, and poor listening skills can hinder this process.

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Effective communication turns vision into shared understanding and strategy into execution. Leaders who master this skill cultivate trust and alignment across diverse teams. As Babson College professor Kristen Getchell noted, “The best leaders help people see the future and make that future concrete.”

Communication, she adds, creates a sense of belonging and purpose in organizations. A University of Pennsylvania study emphasizes that effective communication “builds trust, encourages collaboration, and ensures clarity of vision,” ultimately driving organizational momentum.

John Maxwell reminds us that leadership always begins with connection before direction—people won’t follow a leader they don’t trust, and trust starts with communication that listens, empathizes, and aligns.

Ricardo Castellano, in a recent LinkedIn article, Cracking the Code: The Art and Science of Effective Communication for Leaders, wrote that communication is like a bridge that connects the leader and their team. A strong bridge can withstand any obstacle, allowing both sides to reach their destination smoothly. A strong bridge can lead to communication, clarity, and success.

Strong leadership communication yields measurable results. The 2025 State of Business Communication report by the Harris Poll showed that 64% of business leaders believe effective communication increases team productivity, while 55% of employees said it boosts job satisfaction. McKinsey’s earlier research found that connected teams enjoy 20–25% higher productivity than those that lack clear communication.

In addition, effective communication fuels collaboration, engagement, and decision-making. It allows employees to see where they fit in the mission and why their work matters, strengthening both performance and morale.

Effective communication builds bridges of connection.

Ineffective communication builds walls.

Leaders who choose to build a strong bridge of communication are best served by developing their leadership capacity as a Super Communicator.

Charles Duhigg, in Supercommunicators, defines communication as “an intentional connection built through recognizing conversational clues, practicing style awareness, and applying targeted skills. “Duhigg emphasizes that communication is not just about exchanging information, but about syncing with others—matching the right conversational type (practical, emotional, or social) and tuning in to hidden cues to connect at a deeper level. Supercommunicators excel by identifying what kind of conversation is happening, listening closely for underlying emotions or intentions, and adapting their style and skills to meet others where they are, creating meaningful, mutual understanding.

The leader choosing to build this strong, solid bridge of communication will use an interwoven set of leadership capacities and practices that can be learned and can be refined to enhance and adapt to the context of the time of their leadership and their organizational culture

These bridge-building capacities are

1. Committing to learn and practice with a curious learner’s humble mindset

2The four pillars of communication skills

Present Listening

A.S.K.Powerful Questions

P.A.U.S.E.to reflect and respond Practice, Practice

3. Being aware of communication styles using the Maxwell DISC model
4. Practicing emotional intelligence, enhancing self and social awareness to understand clues and cues
5. Practice a coaching style such as A.O.O.O.A.

The leadership questions for you are then

What steps can you take to be a supercommunicator, building bridges of connection

Is there a “failure to communicate” in leadership practice and your organization?