Leadership With a Twist

Proactivity in Communication: Building Trust and Efficiency


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Proactive communication builds trust by making sure people always know they'll be informed when it matters.

Are you waiting to be asked — or are you leading the conversation? In this episode of Leadership With a Twist, Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dig into one of the most powerful and often overlooked leadership communication skills: proactive communication.

If your boss is coming to you for updates, you've already moved too slow. Heather and Barbara share practical, actionable guidance on how to get one step ahead — sharing information before it's asked for, closing the loop on delegated projects, and creating a communication rhythm that builds trust at every level of your organization.
 

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why proactive communication is a trust-building superpower for leaders and team members alike
  • How to distinguish between micromanaging and generously sharing resources
  • How proactive updates protect your supervisor's credibility and set them up for success
  • How to build update checkpoints into your delegation process to eliminate open loops
  • How to co-create a communication rhythm with your supervisor that fits your current season
  • Whether you're a senior leader, a team manager, or an individual contributor, this episode gives you a clear framework for becoming the kind of communicator people trust — without feeling like you're over-reporting or stepping on toes.

    Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a leader you believe in.

    00:00 Welcome and Topic
    00:40 One Step Ahead Updates
    02:41 Sharing Down Builds Safety
    03:58 Resources Not Afterthoughts
    06:14 Close Loops With Delegation
    08:12 Micromanaging Versus Support
    13:56 Update Agreements and Cadence
    16:27 Avoid Empty Reports
    18:17 Key Takeaways and Coaching

     

    About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment.

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    Cheering You On!

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    Leadership With a TwistBy Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler