Why Don't We Succeed Like Others?
Edition #009
Hey everyone, a quick apology!
I missed posting last Friday's newsletter on Substack due to a technical hiccup with my publication settings here, though I did post on LinkedIn. All sorted now, and I'm back on track! Thank you for your patience — you’ll hear from me this Friday onwards without fail.
Welcome to Edition #009 of People Please! My goal with this newsletter is to help 100,000 professionals shift from "people pleasers" to culture-builders.
In this edition, I have dived deep into the power of communication for individuals and organisations.
The Power of Communication: The Skill That Defines Success
Success isn’t just about intentions, expertise, or hard work—it’s about how effectively you communicate. Across industries and professions, those who fail to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact often find themselves overlooked, underestimated, or ignored.
Women & Communication: The Difference Between Success & Setback
Women don’t lose opportunities due to a lack of talent—they often lose because they haven’t developed strong communication skills to assert their value, negotiate, and lead effectively.
Example: Indra Nooyi (Success Through Communication) Indra Nooyi didn’t just transform PepsiCo into a global powerhouse because of her business acumen—she knew how to persuade stakeholders, inspire employees, and build relationships with investors and policymakers. Her ability to communicate a clear vision, advocate for sustainable growth, and lead with empathy made her one of the most respected CEOs in the world.
Example: Elizabeth Holmes (Failure Due to Poor Communication) Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was brilliant and ambitious, but she relied on deceptive communication rather than transparent, credible storytelling. By misleading investors, employees, and regulators, she ultimately lost trust, leading to Theranos’ downfall and her conviction for fraud.
Skills alone don’t drive success—clear, strategic, and impactful communication is what elevates leaders and sets them apart.
HR & Workplace Communication: The Bridge to Engagement
HR professionals struggle for influence not because of a lack of expertise, but because they fail to communicate with authority and strategic impact. The HR department is the bridge between leadership and employees, and when communication is weak, trust erodes.
Example: Google vs. Traditional Corporations Google fosters transparent communication—from sharing financials to hosting open forums where employees can ask the CEO anything. This openness builds trust and innovation. In contrast, companies that operate with secrecy and top-down communication struggle with low engagement and high turnover.
Organisations with strong internal communication see higher employee retention, trust, and productivity.
Employer Branding & Internal Communication: Culture Shapers
Employers fail to connect with their own people when there’s no communication bridge, leading to low morale, disengagement, and workplace disconnect.
Example: Amazon vs. Patagonia
Amazon has faced criticism for workplace culture issues, largely due to internal communication gaps about work-life balance.
Patagonia, on the other hand, openly communicates its mission, values, and sustainability efforts, creating loyalty and attracting top talent.
An employer’s ability to communicate vision and values directly impacts workplace culture and employee commitment.
Politics: Winning Through the Power of Words
Even politicians with genuine intentions fail when they cannot communicate effectively to mobilise support and drive action.
Business Failures Due to Poor Communication
According to McKinsey, companies with strong communication strategies are 3.5 times more likely to outperform competitors. Yet, poor communication globally costs businesses $37 billion annually in lost productivity.
📜 The Historical Power of Communication
Throughout history, successful leaders, businesses, and movements have thrived because of their ability to communicate effectively. Those who failed often lacked this skill.
MLK’s "I Have a Dream" speech was rooted in hope, unity, and a compelling vision, helping him mobilise a broad audience and drive legislative change.
Malcolm X’s message, though powerful, was often polarizing, which made it harder to gain widespread support.
Communication can unite or divide, build movements or break them.
Communication is a Power Skill, Not a Soft Skill
Communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a power skill that determines success, influence, and leadership.
As George Bernard Shaw once said: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
I’m sharing a step-by-step 10-stage process to help you build powerful communication skills from foundational listening to mastering persuasion and conflict resolution. Start with foundational steps and progress to advanced techniques:
1. Develop Active Listening Skills (Foundation)
Focus fully on the speaker without interrupting.
Show understanding through nodding, paraphrasing, and asking questions.
Avoid distractions and give full attention.
2. Strengthen Non-Verbal Communication
Maintain eye contact to show confidence and engagement.
Use appropriate gestures and facial expressions.
Pay attention to body language for openness and trust.
3. Improve Verbal Communication
Speak clearly and concisely.
Use simple, audience-appropriate language.
Be mindful of tone, volume, and pacing.
4. Enhance Written Communication
Organise thoughts before writing.
Use clear formatting for better readability.
Keep messages structured, concise, and grammatically correct use AI tools but always spot your mistakes. Note them and don't repeat them.
5. Develop Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Recognise and manage your emotions.
Show empathy and understand others’ emotions.
Remain calm and composed during difficult conversations.
6. Adapt to Different Audiences
Adjust your communication style based on the listener.
Consider cultural, professional, and personal differences.
Be flexible and open to feedback.
7. Practice Public Speaking (Intermediate Level)
Prepare thoroughly before speaking to a group.
Use storytelling and real-world examples to engage listeners.
Handle nervousness by practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself.
8. Build Persuasion and Negotiation Skills
Understand your audience’s needs before presenting your ideas.
Use logical reasoning and emotional appeal effectively.
Be patient and find common ground in discussions.
9. Improve Conflict Resolution Skills (Advanced Level)
Stay calm and avoid reacting emotionally.
Listen to all perspectives before responding.
Focus on solutions rather than blame.
10. Seek Feedback and Keep Learning (Ongoing Development)
Ask for feedback from peers, mentors, and colleagues.
Observe and learn from great communicators.
Continuously refine skills through books, courses, and practice.
For organisations- I’ve been writing extensively about internal communication campaign design strategies—covering the do’s, don’ts, and everything in between. If you’re looking to enhance employee experience through strong and structured communication in your organisation, I encourage you to explore the last few editions of People Please along with the next two upcoming editions.
Best | Shikha Mittal | Founder, Be.artsy
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Why Trust Me?
Over the past 15 years, I’ve collaborated with 450+ organisations across 41 industries, designing and delivering learning and developing programs impacting over 500,000 professionals through my enterprise, Be.artsy. which I founded in 2010 in Delhi, India.
From small beginnings to global impact, Be.artsy has led the way in using learning programs to drive revenue. We're not just in the business of training—we’re in the business of Trainings with ROI! Today, we go beyond learning to deliver measurable impact.
If they are people pleaser; they are not good communicators. It’s as simple!
The irony is that people-pleasers often invest the most time and energy in improving their communication skills, yet their efforts remain ineffective and yield little concrete results. If they focus more on listening to their inner voice, they will naturally develop strong communication skills—one that doesn't rely on appeasing egos but instead fosters genuine impact. True effort shifts communication from mere broadcasting to deep, meaningful connections.