Things Leaders Do

Mastering Leadership Communication: Be a Chief Reminding Officer

• Colby Morris • Season 1 • Episode 61

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Episode Title: Mastering Leadership Communication: Be a Chief Reminding Officer

Episode Summary:
Communication isn’t just part of leadership—it is leadership. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, host Colby Morris dives into unusual but highly effective methods for leaders to communicate, inspired by Patrick Lencioni’s concept of the "Chief Reminding Officer." Leaders must communicate clearly, frequently, and in alignment with their organization’s key pillars to keep teams focused and engaged.

Learn practical ways to connect with your team, such as Town Halls, shift kick-off meetings, and video updates. Discover why visibility matters and how even casual walkabouts can make a huge impact on your leadership. Colby also explains how structuring communication around your organization’s most important goals reinforces alignment and clarity for everyone.

This episode is packed with actionable tips, a touch of humor, and plenty of insights to help you master the art of leadership communication.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why leaders need to think of themselves as "Chief Reminding Officers."
  • Unconventional methods to deliver your message effectively and engage your team.
  • How to align all communication with your organization’s pillars and priorities.
  • The importance of being visible and intentional in your communication.

🎧 Tune in now to elevate your communication game and inspire your team like never before!

Call to Action:
If you enjoy this episode, make sure to subscribe to Things Leaders Do on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with another leader who’s ready to level up their communication. Let’s connect on LinkedIn for even more leadership insights and discussions—[link in show notes].

#Leadership #Communication #ChiefRemindingOfficer #EffectiveCommunication #LeadershipPodcast #ThingsLeadersDo #ColbyMorris


Speaker 1:

Welcome to Things Leaders Do, the podcast that uncovers the secrets of becoming an extraordinary leader. If you're a leader who's constantly seeking growth, inspiration and tangible ways to level up your leadership, then you've come to the right place. Remember, the world needs exceptional leaders, and that leader is you. Now here's your host, colby Morris is you Now?

Speaker 2:

here's your host, colby Morris. Hello leaders, and welcome to the TLD Podcast. I'm your host, colby Morris, and if you're new here, well, let me do a quick introduction. I've been in leadership for a long time. I've been in the leadership trenches from first-time manager to executive and along the way, I've been in the leadership trenches from first-line manager to executive and along the way I've learned some pretty big things. I also learned that leaders are basically professional communicators and, honestly, some of us are better at it than others. My goal here is to help you lead better, faster than others. My goal here is to help you lead better, faster. No need to spend years fighting this stuff and figuring it out the hard way. Just learn from my mistakes, and let me tell you there have been plenty. Like the time I thought sending one email would fix all our communication problems. Spoiler, it didn't. That's why today we're talking about how to communicate effectively as a leader, beyond just sending emails and hoping for the best.

Speaker 2:

Here's the thing about leadership Communication isn't just part of the job. It is the job, just part of the job. It is the job. Patrick Lencioni says a leader should act as a chief reminding officer. At first I thought that sounded a little over the top, but then I realized he's right. If your team isn't hearing your key messages over and over, they're probably not hearing them at all. Think about it. How many times have you said something in a meeting, assumed everyone understood, and then a week later you found out no one even remembers it? It's like you were talking to yourself. That's why communication has to be frequent, has to be clear and it has to be tied to things that matter most your organization's main goals or your pillars.

Speaker 2:

Today we're diving into some unusual, practical ways really to open up your communication game. We'll cover town halls, shift kickoff meetings, video updates and even yep, walk in the floor to chat with your team. Because here's the truth being visible and intentional with your communication isn't just helpful, it is essential. So let's start with this idea of being the chief reminding officer. What does that actually mean, the chief reminding officer? What does that actually mean? Well, it means your job as a leader is to constantly remind your team of what's important. And no, that doesn't mean nagging them like they're your kids or someone who hasn't your kids, who haven't cleaned the room. I guess it means reinforcing the vision, the values, the goals of your organization, so they stay front and center.

Speaker 2:

I've learned that just when you think you've said something too many times, that's when the people are finally starting to hear it. It's like a friend who keeps asking you to join their workout group. You ignore them for like six months, but on the seventh time you're like fine, I'll try it. Communication and leadership works the same way. Repetition isn't annoying, it's clarity. And here's the kicker If you're not clear and consistent, your team will fill in the blanks themselves. And let me tell you, what they come up with probably won't be what you intended.

Speaker 2:

All right, let's talk about some practical ways to get your message across. There are a little outside the box, but they work because they're visible, engaging and consistent. Let's start with town halls, or, as I like to call them let's all get on the same page meetings. These are a great way to communicate big picture updates and tie them back to your company's goals or pillars. For example, if one of your pillars is innovation, well, your town hall should include stories or examples of how the team is driving innovation. Here's the key Make it interactive. Nobody wants to sit through 45 minutes of you talking at them like a college lecturer active Okay, nobody wants to sit through 45 minutes of you talking at them like a college lecturer. Okay, include a Q and a section where the team can ask questions or even share feedback. Trust me, when you're when your team feels heard, they're more likely to buy into what you're selling, saying All right, let's go a little smaller, a little more focused. Shift kickoff meetings these are just quick five to 10 meeting huddles at the start of the shift or the workday. Okay, they're not about long discussions, it's just about setting the tone.

Speaker 2:

Okay, what's today's focus? What's the one thing we absolutely need to get done? And keep it tied to your pillars too. For example, if your focus is on teamwork, call out someone who demonstrated great teamwork yesterday. Okay, it's short, it's actionable and it keeps your team aligned. Plus, it's a great excuse to drink more coffee, which I'm always in the favor of. If you want to see things get repeated, praise it in public. Come on, write that down. If you want to see things repeated, praise it in public. People love recognition, and if you want to see more of it, you have to call it out For remote or hybrid teams, and some of you out there have told me that you are leading those video updates or a game changer, really.

Speaker 2:

A quick three to five minute video every week. I can reinforce your priorities and and, like a personal way, just make sure it's focused. Okay, no one wants to sit through your 10 minutes of you rambling about everything and nothing. Okay, hit one or two key points, tie them to your goals and close with a call to action Boom Done. Oh, bonus tip Make sure you smile in the video. Okay, a smile can go a long way, even if you're just talking about quarterly revenue targets. Now, this one's my favorite Walking the floor. Yes, it's a good country song too.

Speaker 2:

But whether you're in an office, a warehouse or visiting a client site, walking around and chatting with your team can be one of the single most effective ways to communicate. Here's why it works. It's personal, it's informal, it shows that you're invested in what they're doing. But don't just stop by and say hi. Use those moments to reinforce your key message. Ask how their work is aligning with the company's goals. If your team knows you care, they'll care too.

Speaker 2:

Here's kind of the golden rule of communication. Tie everything back to your organizational pillars. If your company has three main goals, let's just say, or call them growth, innovation and teamwork. Every piece of communication you deliver should align with at least one of those. For example, if you're sending a video update, include a quick story about how the team is driving innovation. If you're in a town hall, celebrate a win. That demonstrates teamwork. When everything you say connects to those pillars, it creates clarity and focus for your team. Okay, they'll know what matters and they'll know how their work contributes.

Speaker 2:

Now, finally, how do you know if your communication is working? It's a good question, right? It's actually pretty simple. Watch what your team does. If they're taking action based on what you've said, you're on the right track. If not, well, it may be time to rethink your approach. Here's a quick test Ask your team to explain the company's vision in two sentences. If they can't, you've got work to do so. To wrap it up, communication isn't just something you do as a leader. It's the most important thing you do. Be visible, be intentional, tie everything back to your organization's goals. When you do, you'll create alignment, you'll create trust and yes, momentum. This week, well, today, I challenge you to try one new communication method. Whether it's a town hall, a shift kickoff meeting or just walk in the floor, find a way to reinforce your key messages and connect with your team. And you know why? Because those are the things that leaders do.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to Things Leaders Do. If you're looking for more tips on how to be a better leader, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and listen to next week's episode. Until next time, keep working on being a better leader by doing the things that leaders do.