Most leaders worry about saying too much.
The real danger? Not saying it enough.
Overcommunication isn’t about being repetitive – it’s about being clear, consistent, and memorable. In organizations, it’s often the missing link between strategy and execution or as we call it « The strategy to performance gap ».
Here are 3 ways to do it well:
🔁 1. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
Great leaders are Chief Reminding Officers.
People don’t internalize a message the first time-or even the fifth. Research shows it can take seven repetitions before something truly sticks.
So say it again, in different ways, from different voices, through different channels. Posters, meetings, 1:1s, dashboards, stories-it all counts.
One leader I know spends a full day with new hires every quarter just to talk about the company’s values. That’s intentional culture-building in action.
📣 2. Cascading Communication
After leadership meetings, ensure there’s one voice going down the chain.
At the end of every exec meeting:
Align on what to communicate
Decide who needs to hear it
Deliver the message consistently, in person or via live conversation
Each level cascades it down the same way. This closes the loop, reduces confusion, and keeps everyone rowing in the same direction.
📖 3. Tell Stories
Facts inform. Stories move.
A good story can illustrate behavior, show strategy in action, and build belief.
Like the FedEx driver who – when her truck broke down – finished deliveries on foot and even got help from a competitor to meet the “absolutely, positively overnight” guarantee.
That story did more than explain the value. It brought it to life.
🧠 Overcommunication is hard – especially for experts who fall into the curse of knowledge. But the leaders who repeat, cascade, and storytell are the ones whose teams move with purpose and clarity.
How much of your leadership impact depends on not just what you say—but how clearly and consistently you communicate it?
Howard O'Donnell
CEO Live Learning
