Welcome back to the Levelling Up Your Leadership series, where we explore the practical skills that drive impact. So far, we’ve covered Resilience (why it’s more about adaptability than endurance), Strategic Management (why it’s about smart choices, not endless planning), and Creative Innovation (why it’s about problem-solving, not just being ‘a creative person’).

In this article, we’re looking at Influential Communication — a skillset that sits at the heart of leadership, but is much deeper that many people think.

Communication Isn’t Just About Talking

Many leaders who are technically brilliant struggle to get buy-in. They have great ideas, but they don’t land. They give clear instructions, but people still go in different directions. They communicate, but don’t influence.

The biggest mistake? Assuming that being a strong communicator means being a great talker.

True influential communication isn’t about how much you say—it’s more about how others hear you and how you can build relationships through good communication.

Areas such as:

✅ Knowing your audience – Understanding and respecting how different people think and process information.

✅ Being clear and compelling – Articulating your ideas in a way that cuts through the noise and invites engagement.

✅ Listening with intent – Understand what’s really being said and why it matters.

✅ Adapting your message – Tailoring your communication for different situations and people.

No matter how good your strategy is, if you can’t bring others with you, it may struggle to go anywhere.

Where We Get Communication Wrong

Here’s the pitfalls that leaders can sometimes fall into.

❌ Overloading with information – You assume more detail makes things clearer, when often it does the opposite.

❌ Speaking in your own style, not theirs – You communicate in a way that works for you, not your audience.

❌ Talking more than listening – If you’re always the one speaking, you might be missing valuable insights.

❌ Avoiding tough conversations – You hold back difficult feedback or challenging discussions to ‘keep the peace’.

Influential leaders don’t just express themselves well—they make sure their message is received, understood, and acted on.

Ways to Level Up Your Influential Communication

Looking to grow as an influential communicator? Try these things:

✅ Simplify, then simplify again – If people don’t ‘get it’ the first time, it’s usually because you made it too complex. Strip back unnecessary detail and focus on the main message. What’s the one thing they need to take away?

✅ Listen with intent – Ask better questions, seek understanding, and make people feel heard—because people listen to those who listen to them. 

✅ Tailor your message – Some people need data, some need a compelling story, some need logic, and some need emotion. The best communicators adjust their approach to meet their audience where they are.

What’s Next?

So, influential communication isn’t just about being more articulate (although that’s still part of it), it’s about knowing how to get people on board and creating alignment to make things happen.

If you want to understand where your strengths are (and where you may be able to sharpen up), the Impact Readiness Index is a great starting point. The free self-assessment will show you where you stand across eight leadership domains, including influential communication.

👉 Take the Impact Readiness Index today and get a free personalised report on your leadership strengths and opportunities.

At The Change Arc, we help leaders and teams build influence and impact—with the right mix of strategy, creativity, and execution. Find out more about how we work here.

About the Author

Iain Fowler is the Co-Founder of The Change Arc, helping leaders and teams build influence and impact. With a background in strategy, leadership development, and communication, he works with leaders to define and activate value, sharpen their leadership brand, and deliver real-world results.