Episode 327: Ever had to break news your team didn’t want to hear—especially when you didn’t agree with it yourself? If you’ve ever found yourself caught between upper management and your team, you know how tricky it can be to share an unpopular decision without losing credibility. This episode gives you practical language and key communication skills to maintain your team’s trust while still honoring your leadership role. So you can lead through frustration rather than fuel it.
By listening, you’ll learn how to:
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Communicate tough decisions without damaging your credibility or your team’s morale.
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Turn emotional reactions into meaningful conversations that restore trust and engagement.
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Use four simple communication skills—connection, clarity, curiosity, and commitment—to transform disappointment into renewed motivation.
Hit play now to learn how to lead through tough decisions with confidence—and come out with a stronger, more trusting team.
Communicating Tough Decisions with Confidence
(00:00–00:45)
David Dye opens with the core challenge: how to communicate a decision your team will hate—especially when you disagree with it—without losing their trust.
(00:46–01:57)
He warns that passing blame or saying “It wasn’t my call” destroys credibility and turns you into a powerless messenger.
(01:58–03:41)
The first step to keeping trust is owning your role. Leaders must take responsibility even when the decision isn’t theirs.
The Four Key Communication Skills to Lead Through Frustration
(03:42–04:25)
Introduce empathy through connection: acknowledge frustration or disappointment so your team feels seen and supported.
(04:26–05:45)
Add clarity. Before announcing a decision, understand the “why” behind it. You can’t communicate what you don’t understand.
(05:46–06:50)
When you explain the rationale clearly, you help your team see the purpose and get on board, even if they dislike the outcome.
(06:51–08:05)
Move to curiosity. Re-empower your team by asking how they want to move forward and what will make them proud of their work.
(08:06–08:55)
Turn curiosity into commitment. Summarize next steps, set timelines, and show you’re leading alongside them.
(08:56–09:40)
These four key communication skills—connection, clarity, curiosity, and commitment—transform frustration into trust and motivation.
(09:41–10:10)
David closes by reminding listeners that even when the message is hard, your presence and words matter most. Practicing these key communication skills will make you a trusted, resilient leader.
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