The Advice I Didn’t Understand

In last month’s Letter from Lindsey, we talked about how tough it can be to delegate—especially for business owners who’ve built their company from the ground up. This month, I want to dive into a topic that’s deeply connected to that struggle: communication.I talk to business leaders all the time who say things like:

I talk to business leaders all the time who say things like:

• “I feel like I’m explaining things, but no one’s really hearing me.”
• “Why does my team keep asking the same questions?”
• “Why can’t anyone just take initiative?”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: most delegation struggles aren’t about capability—they’re about clarity. It’s not that your people can’t do the job. It’s that you haven’t communicated what you want in a way they can truly understand and act on.

I learned this the hard way. For years, I thought I was being clear. I thought I had processes. I thought I had communicated my vision. But what I really had were a bunch of mental notes, scattered conversations, and assumptions that my team could “just figure it out.”

Spoiler alert: They couldn’t. And that was on me.

Communicating Well Is a Skill—Not a Trait
We often assume communication is just about talking or writing. But effective communication is about choosing the right medium, the right structure, and the right message for the right context.

I recently came across a great message on this topic that reminded me: communication isn’t just about what we say, but how we say it—and in what form. Whether it’s a written document, a video, a conversation, a visual diagram, or even an informal voice memo—the medium matters just as much as the message.

The key is understanding your context and choosing the format that helps your team best receive, digest, and take action on what you’re saying.

Business Owners Also Struggle With Communicating Vision
Another big gap I see is in articulating vision. Where is your company going? Why does that matter? How are you planning to get there? And most importantly—how does your team’s work tie into that journey?

If you can’t clearly and consistently answer those questions in a way that resonates with your team, they’ll default to just “doing tasks” instead of aligning with your mission.

Practical Tips for Communicating More Effectively
Here are a few tangible ways you can improve communication in your business starting today:

Choose the Right Medium

• Written instructions work well for step-by-step processes.
• Videos or screen recordings help clarify complex workflows.
• In-person or Zoom conversations build rapport and clarity.
• Visual flowcharts or diagrams are great for outlining systems or timelines.

Edit and Reflect
Take time to review what you’ve written or recorded before sharing it. A quick edit can make your message significantly clearer. (Pro tip: Read your writing backwards—sentence by sentence. It’ll surprise you what you catch.)

Give It Breathing Room
Don’t communicate under pressure. Prepare your message, then revisit it a day later with fresh eyes. You’ll often spot opportunities to simplify or clarify.

Make It Contextually Appropriate
What works in one environment may fall flat in another. Learn what communication style resonates best with your audience—whether it’s your leadership team, your frontline staff, or your clients.

Know Your Own Strengths
Some of us communicate best in writing. Others are dynamic speakers. Lean into your strength, but make sure your message still lands clearly with others—even if that means asking for help to translate your vision into a different format.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’re reading this thinking, “I don’t even know where to begin,” you’re not alone. We help businesses build communication systems that actually work—from creating documented processes to training your team on how to communicate effectively and consistently.

We believe in this so strongly that we’ve made it part of what we offer our clients. Because great communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a growth strategy.

If you want help getting your message across and building systems your team can follow, reply to this email. Let’s talk.

Cheering you on,