LEAD DIFFERENT

Lead Different is for strategic thinkers who want to level-up their communications skills without slowing down. Each weekly issue gives you quick, practical shifts you can read in 4-minutes. Familiar sections, new insights - every time. Subscribe and command words with power.

Reputation & Trust – how to earn trust or get it back

Trust is Earned in Threes

The most trusted companies don’t just innovate. They:

1. Delivery quality

2. Are open (transparent)

3. Take accountability

For example:

• Shipping what works, not what wows.

• Explaining in plain language what data you collect, why you collect it, and how it’s used.

• When key functionality is missing or your product is underperforming, you own it and outline clearly the concrete steps to fix the problem.

Sounds simple but often not easy to do.

Key is to consistently apply all three over time to increase trust.

Narrative Power – The leadership story playbook

Turning Data into Drama

Data doesn’t persuade; story does. A chart showing 12% churn won’t stick, but “One in ten customers walk away confused and frustrated” might.

The best leaders don’t just present data; they give it context that relates to what’s important to their audience.

And they wrap the data in contrast, consequence, and urgency. What’s changed? What’s at risk? What happens if nothing changes?

Download the Tip Sheet below 👇 for examples of turning data into stories.

Influence & Framing – Small moves, big impact

From a Negotiation Deadlock to a Signed Deal

When contract negotiations stall, bogged down in disputes over pricing tiers, steep penalties for missed SLAs, or unclear scope boundaries, it’s often less about cost and more about trust.

Reframe the conversation using these 3 techniques:

1. Label concerns early: “It sounds like the long-term costs feel unpredictable.”

2. Use a calibrated question to shift pressure: “How can we structure service terms that give you confidence we’ll deliver without either side taking on unfair risk?”

3. Use contrast framing: Show what delay or misalignment costs vs. shared success. “Would it help to map out the cost delays versus the upside of getting this right, together?”

Done right, you move from defensive posturing to co-creating a deal both sides believe in.

Crucial Conversations – Navigating high-stakes comms

How to Help Teams Move from Conflict to Collaboration

Two teams, one struggling project, zero trust.

Step in by proceeding in the following way:

1. Observe without blame (“Here’s what I’m seeing…”)

2. Name the feeling (“It sounds like there’s frustration and pressure on both sides”).

3. Uncover the need (“What does each team need to move forward?”)

4. Make a request (“Can we explore a plan that works for both of you?”).

You don’t need to pick a side, just steer the conversation somewhere better.

Internal Comms – How to connect, not just inform

How to Make Town Halls Great

Ditch the dull updates.

Anchor your Town Hall to a single, clear theme like ‘The Work That Connects Us”, inviting separate business units to collaborate. Use a strong metaphor, such as a network of highways converging on a shared destination. Let contributors speak to the theme from different perspectives.

Create positive tension by flipping the script: a Project Manager presents the CEOs message from their vantage, while the CEO plays the role of a key client highlighting strengths and gaps in the relationship.

Spotlight regular employees. Let them share their challenges, pains and triumphs.

When the format changes, so does the energy. The event becomes a platform for the transference of empathy, connectedness and ideas, long after the Town Hall finishes.

Getting Clear – Communication that cuts through

Abstract Words Cloud Your Message. Clear Verbs Better Persuade

People in tech are smart and so tend to use Nominalisations a lot. That’s how we were taught to write at university.

Nominalisations are nouns formed from verbs, like implementation, migration, utilisation. They sound learned but overuse can blur meaning and slow momentum.

In business comms, especially when you’re trying to influence decisions, being clear wins.

❌ “The implementation of the migration of on-premise applications to the cloud will result in the optimisation of operations.”

✅ “We’re moving your on-prem apps to the cloud to streamline how you work.”

Active verbs keep your message clear and move your audience where you need them to go.

Ask Edith - Your communication challenges, answered

My Most Experienced PM is Falling Short. Now What?

Q: I’m a 35-year-old woman, leading a team mostly older than me. One senior PM is slipping, missing meetings, being abrupt with clients, and his last project went sideways. How do I improve his performance without him walking out or shutting down. I can’t afford to lose him.

A: The worst thing you can do is present a list of grievances. You also need to park your frustration. If you don’t, he’ll walk. Start by checking in with him, and mean it. Ask how he thinks the projects’ going, and if there’s anything you can do to help. Then ease in: “Has your performance felt up to your usual standard?” Listen. Take notes. Then make it a give-and-take: you’ll shift a resource his way and he’ll commit to showing up on time and listening to the client. You’re aiming for ownership, not ego damage, by helping him feel supported while he names the gaps himself.

Got a communication challenge you want answered in the next issue of this newsletter? Reply to this email with your question and I’ll give you my perspective.

THE LEADERSHIP IMPRINT

30-second read how the best leaders communicate to leave a lasting mark, and what you can apply today.