Hi there Communicators,

February is the month of love, but chocolates and heart-shaped lattes won’t fix communication breakdowns in our workplaces. If we truly want to show appreciation for our employees, colleagues, and even ourselves, it starts with how we communicate.

Clarity in communication isn’t just about avoiding misunderstandings—it’s about building trust and creating workplaces where everyone knows what they're working towards  and are equipped to do their best work. 

When expectations are vague, feedback is muddled, or priorities shift without explanation, it doesn’t just cause frustration—it chips away at confidence, motivation, and productivity. (Who's been there?)
 

So, how do we show our teams and ourselves some real love this month?

1. Set people up for success with clear expectations.

2. Build trust through transparency.

3. Invest in communication skills. 

I’ve included a few great reads this month on how to build a strong internal communication function and foster trust. Check them out, and make clarity the love language of our workplaces.

More to come next month, but in the meantime—how are you improving communication in your organization? How is communication in your organization going in Q1 of 2025? 

Hit reply and let me know.

Talk Soon, 

Liz Marion

Owner & Principal, Liby Works

Key Insightsfacts and more 

Data 86% of employees and executives say poor communication and collaboration cause workplace failures.

 More Than That

Communication breakdowns don’t just cause minor frustrations—they derail entire projects, slow down decision-making, and create massive inefficiencies across teams. When 86% of employees and executives say communication failures are behind workplace struggles, that’s not just a soft-skill issue—it’s a bottom-line issue.

So what’s really happening here? Most teams don’t struggle because they lack knowledge or skill—they struggle because information gets lost, misaligned, or misinterpreted. Think about how many times a project has stalled because expectations weren’t clear, key details were missing, or different departments weren’t on the same page. Poor communication is a hidden drain on time, money, and energy.

 The good news? We can fix this.

 If you want your team to move faster, make better decisions, and increase productivity, you have to make communication a strategic priority by . . .

• Clarifying expectations upfront. Does every team member know what success looks like? Miscommunication often happens when people assume they’re aligned—but they aren’t.

• Creating a culture of feedback. When employees feel comfortable asking for clarification or providing input, teams work more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.

• Building communication into your processes. Don’t leave it to chance. Establish check-ins, clear handoff points, and structured updates to keep projects moving forward without friction.

 Communication should be the thing that speeds you up, not slows you down. 

The Communications Corral: A round up of recent communications news, reports and content. 

 01

RESOURCE

Effective Communication &

The Trust Gap

Gallagher's article “Building Trust and Confidence in the Workplace Amid Unpredictability” makes the case to address effective communication at all levels of an organization, starting at the top, to avoid the trust gap widening in critical times.

Read it here

02
Strategic Communications

IABC provides practical steps to building strategy into your communications - even if you don't have a dedicated department for the effort.

GRAB IT HERE

Quips, Quotes and Jokes: We have to have a little fun with communications.

How Can I Help?

If communication challenges are getting in the way of your business, your career, or your team’s success, let’s talk. Whether it’s breaking through bottlenecks, strengthening leadership communication, or getting your team aligned, I’m here to help turn communication into your biggest advantage.

Know someone who needs better communication in their business? 

 Here’s how to connect us:

• Share why Liby Works is a trusted resource—how our strategies or insights could help them.

• Get their okay for an introduction so it’s a warm, welcomed connection.

• Make the intro via email, and I’ll take it from there!

And if we haven’t connected in a while, let’s change that. I’d love to hear what’s new with you and explore how we can make communication work harder for you in 2025. 

 Shoot me a message anytime!

Book a Call