by Dr. Brad Johnson
Let’s be honest: most communication isn’t communication at all—it’s miscommunication.
We assume people get the message because we said it out loud, typed it in bold, or repeated it in a staff meeting. But unless we take time to confirm how it lands with others, what we intended and what they heard are rarely the same.
Let me show you—with a story about my car.
Your Car Gets You. Your Team Might Not.
I drive the same car every day. It knows me.
The seat adjusts automatically. The mirrors are right. The lights come on by themselves. It even instinctively pulls into the grocery store—because it knows my cat is waiting on more treats! And if I pass a QuikTrip without stopping? My car basically checks in: “Hey, everything okay? You skipped your usual energy drink.”
It’s smooth. Familiar. It just works.
But get me in a rental? Whole different story.
I brake too hard. It doesn’t accelerate like I expect. I fumble with the controls. I’ve even driven around at night with the headlights off—because I assumed they’d turn on automatically like in my car.
Why? Because I didn’t know the settings. No rhythm. No relationship. I was operating on assumption.
And even though I’ve been driving for decades…
I still pulled up on the wrong side of the pump for gas.
Because familiarity isn’t the same as understanding.
And experience doesn’t override the need to slow down and pay attention. Just like a rental car, new team members don’t know your pace, your style, or your shortcuts. You have to help them find the settings
You Thought You Were Clear. So Did She.
Another example that is reflective of miscommunication could be a simple request like a mom asking a child for a favor.
A mom once asked her teenage son to “put the chicken in the oven at 350.”
Later, she checked on it. The chicken was in the oven… but still raw.
Why?
Because he put it in at 3:50 p.m.
Not at 350 degrees.
He listened. He even did what she said—or at least what he thought she said, based on his frame of reference.
That’s leadership in a nutshell. You can say the right thing, but unless you confirm what your team heard and understood, you’re throwing raw chicken into an oven and wondering why nothing’s cooking.
Communication Isn’t About Clarity to You. It’s About Clarity to Them.
Seasoned leaders fall into this trap all the time:
They assume that because the message is obvious to them, it’s clear to everyone else.
But clarity isn’t what you said—it’s what was received.
People filter your words through experience, emotion, pressure, fear, habits, and expectations. If you don’t slow down and check for alignment, your team might take off running in the wrong direction with full confidence.
Where Clarity Ends, Confusion Begins
Let’s say a principal sends this email:
“Please make sure all your student info is entered before Friday.”
Sounds reasonable. But here’s how it gets interpreted:
- One teacher updates grades.
- Another inputs contact information into the SIS.
- Someone assumes it’s about behavior documentation.
- A fourth thinks it’s for students on intervention plans only.
Everyone thinks they followed the instructions—but they all did something different.
The result? Confusion. Gaps. And another email from the principal trying to clarify what should’ve been clear the first time.
This is how miscommunication works.
You don’t have to say the wrong thing. You just have to say something open to too many interpretations.
And it’s not just the big messages that get lost—it’s the day-to-day stuff, too.
The real disconnect doesn’t usually happen during staff meetings or announcements.
It happens in the hallway, in a quick email, in the way something is phrased.
That’s because…
Communication Happens in the Small Moments
You don’t build understanding through one big speech or a carefully worded email. You build it in the small moments:
- The casual check-in at lunch
- The 30 seconds after a meeting where you ask, “Did that land how I intended?”
- The handwritten note that reinforces a key message
- The moment you pause and say, “Tell me what you think I’m asking you to do”
Communication isn’t just about broadcasting your thoughts. It’s about making sure what you said and what they heard match.
How to Make Sure You’re Actually Communicating
Here are 6 strategies to ensure your message sticks—and doesn’t get lost in translation:
1. Ask People to Explain It Back
After giving instructions or casting vision, ask:
“Just so I know we’re on the same page, can you tell me how you’re seeing it?”
It’s not about testing them—it’s about confirming alignment.
2. Get Comfortable with Feedback
Ask your team:
“Where did this feel unclear?” or “What part needs more detail?”
Feedback isn’t criticism—it’s insight. You can’t improve communication you’re not willing to examine.
3. Use Consistent Language
Don’t keep reinventing the message. Anchor it to the same phrase or metaphor over time. Repetition builds clarity.
Clarity builds trust.
4. The Quick(Trip) Check-In
Like my car checks in when I skip the gas station or energy drink stop, you need to check in with your people—not just once, but often.
Ask quick questions like:
“How’s that feeling so far?”
“Need anything from me?”
“What’s something I might’ve missed?”These small, casual moments build clarity and trust.
Because real communication isn’t a one-time announcement—it’s a habit of consistent, human connection.
5. Lead with Praise, Encouragement, and Support
Communication shouldn’t only be about policies, procedures, or correction. If most of your words are transactional or critical, your people will stop listening.
The most effective leaders communicate most often to uplift:
- Praise effort and progress
- Encourage growth
- Support people through challenges
That builds trust. That builds culture. That makes your words matter.
6. Watch Reactions, Not Just Responses
Sometimes people nod—but they’re not tracking. Pay attention to body language, follow-through, and whether you’re seeing the message reflected in their behavior.
Final Thought: Clarity Isn’t Optional
In leadership, it doesn’t matter what you said—only what they understood.
Miscommunication doesn’t just create confusion.
It creates frustration, wasted time, and missed goals.
And over time, it erodes trust.
So check in. Ask questions. Build clarity through connection.
Because great leaders don’t just speak—they make sure they’re understood.
Clear communication isn’t extra. It’s the job.
Now let me find a QuikTrip for that energy drink!
If you’re looking for professional development that’s not just informative—but transformational—for your district’s leaders or teachers, message me.
I design PD experiences that challenge assumptions, build trust, and improve communication at every level.
Let’s talk about bringing that impact to your district.
Dr. Brad Johnson
#3 Global Gurus Top 30 in Education | District Administration Top 100 Influencer