Listen Up! Everyone's talking. Nobody's listening, on imPERFECT: Better After Broken Ep17

Everyone’s talking. Nobody’s listening. Or, more accurately: everyone is sending messages, scheduling meetings, sharing updates, and giving direction—but very few people are checking whether the message actually landed. In this episode of imPERFECT: Better After Broken, leadership coaches, Jeff Servello, PCC, RBLP-T and Dr. Susan Hendrich, explore one of the most common—and costly—leadership failures: confusing communication with shared understanding. You may have sent the email. You may have said it in the meeting. You may have repeated it three times. But did people understand the priority? Did they know what decision was made, what action was required, who owned it, and what success looked like? This conversation tackles: Why speaking is an output, but communication is an outcome The “dangerous nod” that leaders mistake for agreement How vague phrases like “be more strategic” create confusion Why drive-by direction leads to unnecessary rework How tone, body language, trust, and power affect what people hear The difference between healthy vulnerability and anxiety transfer How to seek clarity from your boss without sounding confrontational What strong leaders communicate during uncertainty and crisis How to repair trust when communication breaks down Why listening may be one of the most disciplined forms of leadership You will also learn practical phrases you can use immediately, including: “Can I play back what I’m hearing?” “What are you hearing as the priority?” “Here is my current interpretation. Is that aligned with what you had in mind?” “What truth do people need, in what form, at what time, so they can stay grounded and move forward?” Communication does not fail only because people are careless. It often fails because good people are operating from different assumptions, an incomplete context, or vague instructions. The repair begins when someone is willing to say: “I don’t think we’re seeing this the same way. Let’s slow down and get aligned.” Because clarity is kindness when the stakes are high. And sometimes the most important person in the room who needs to start listening is the leader. Key Takeaway The best leaders do not measure communication by how much they said. They measure it by what people understood—and what they are now able to do. Speaking is an output. Communication is an outcome. If this resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. ________________________________ About the show: imPERFECT: Better After Broken is the show where we celebrate the cracks, the scars, and the stories that make us stronger. The show is a leadership and culture podcast focused on resilience, authenticity, and growth through real-world experience. Hosted by Leadership Coach, Jeff Servello, PCC, RBLP-T, with Psychologist, Dr. Susan Hendrich, on Sandcastle Radio. Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, culture, and becoming stronger in the places that once felt broken. / @imperfectbetterafterbroken ‪@jeffreyservello4081‬ ‪@susanhendrich‬ #Leadership #CommunicationSkills #ListeningSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCommunication #EmotionalIntelligence #Teamwork #Management #ExecutiveCoaching #BetterAfterBroken