Leadership in the Wild: Communication is a leadership muscle

This week reminded me that communication isn’t just a skill — it’s a leadership muscle. And like any muscle, it only grows when we use it in real, unscripted moments.

I was in a conversation where the topic shifted faster than a dog spotting a squirrel. People were trying to follow along, but you could tell the conversation was getting away from us and the message was getting lost in the noise.

So I paused, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and said,

“Let’s reset. What’s the outcome we actually need in this moment?”

The group settled.

People smiled and re‑engaged.

And clarity returned.

Moments like this happen all the time — in meetings, in hallway conversations, in quick check‑ins.

Communication in the wild isn’t about speaking more.

It’s about creating space for meaning to land.

These small resets are where real leadership lives.