Effective Communication is a Superpower

Effective communication is not just about talking—it’s about ensuring our message is genuinely understood.

Good communication requires effort, practice, and intentionality to build stronger connections and enhance understanding with others.

Communication is one of the most critical skills you can develop. It touches every aspect of our lives—our relationships, careers, and ability to seize opportunities. 

Whether leading a team, negotiating a deal, mentoring someone, or simply trying to connect with your family, your ability to communicate effectively can determine success or failure. The most successful people in any field have mastered the art of communication. They know how to listen, express ideas clearly, and adjust their message for different audiences.

Think about a great leader, a powerful speaker, or an influential mentor you admire. What makes them stand out? It’s not just their knowledge or technical ability—it’s their capacity to communicate their vision in a way that inspires and motivates others.

For example, Joe Rogan, who has mastered long-form conversation, draws deep insights from his guests. With his sharp persuasion tactics, Scott Adams understands how to frame ideas for maximum impact. Jocko Willink conveys leadership and discipline through his no-nonsense, direct approach. Dan Bongino has a commanding style that engages and energizes his audience, while Jordan Peterson articulates complex psychological and philosophical concepts in a way that deeply resonates with people. 

Each of these individuals demonstrates the immense power of communication in shaping thought, influence, and action.

Adding strong communication skills to your skill stack enhances everything else you do. It amplifies your expertise, makes collaboration more effective, and creates new opportunities that may remain hidden.

The ability to express your ideas clearly can differentiate between a successful pitch and a missed opportunity, a strong team dynamic and dysfunction, or a meaningful relationship and misunderstanding.

Communication is a force multiplier, making all your other skills more valuable and impactful.

Why Is Good Communication Important?

Communication is the foundation of all relationships—whether personal, professional, or social. It fosters connection, clarity, and trust. The ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and understand others can make the difference between success and failure in many areas of life.

Your audience could be your children. Your audience could be your spouse, colleagues at work, members of your church or school, or potential new customers. Communication is a critical skill to develop and add to your skill stack because it amplifies the effectiveness of all your other abilities. If I were to rank the most important skills, communication should have been at number one.

Here’s why:

• Enhances Collaboration: Good communication allows you to express ideas clearly, work effectively with others, and build strong relationships—essential for any career or endeavor. While we can accomplish a lot independently, we can achieve much more with a trusted group of friends, partners, or team members. Good communication ensures everyone understands the plan and moves forward together.
  

• Influence and Persuasion: Communication is essential for persuading others, whether in selling an idea, negotiating, or inspiring action. It’s particularly valuable when paired with leadership or technical expertise. Consider job interviews—your ability to communicate effectively quickly is critical. I often equate job interviews to speed dating.

  The initial moments of a job interview set the tone. How you present yourself, your demeanor, and your confidence are all assessed immediately. Your communication must quickly showcase your best self and determine if there’s a mutual fit for a successful future partnership with the company.
  

• Simplifies Complex Concepts: The ability to take complex ideas and explain them in simple, relatable ways is a rare and powerful skill that adds value to any field. In today’s world, information is abundant, and people crave clarity. We often explain complex subjects to our kids, friends, or coworkers. The more effectively you communicate complex topics in a way that is easy to understand, the more influence and power you create.
  

• Multiplies the Value of Other Skills: Being “good enough” at communication can exponentially enhance any other skill in your stack. A highly technical expert who can communicate well becomes a sought-after resource. In my experience in the information technology world, there’s a distinct difference between an "all-day-behind-the-desk" programmer and one who can effectively communicate solutions to customers. Both may be essential, but clients and leadership request only one by name.
  

• Opens Opportunities: Clear communication helps you connect with people, pitch ideas, and seize opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed. My career in Japan is a perfect example. My ability to effectively communicate how I could help the companies I was interviewing with opened doors I never knew existed.

  One interview created a memory I will never forget. The meeting was conducted at the American Club in Tokyo, and that night, the famous sumo wrestler Konishiki sat at a table across from us. The person interviewing me had enough confidence in my communication ability to introduce me to Konishiki.

  That was a moment where communication opened an unexpected door. Not only did it validate my ability to connect with others, but it also reinforced how strong communication can create opportunities beyond what we anticipate.

The Importance of Good Communication with Our Kids

I am unsure if this section fits, but I wanted to highlight the importance of good communication with our kids. If you are not a parent, or do not have kids in your life, you can skip to the next section, but as a father, this is a skill I am continuously refining.

One of the most critical places to develop strong communication skills is within our families—especially with our children. How we communicate with our kids shapes their confidence, emotional intelligence, and ability to express themselves.

• Building Trust and Connection: When we take the time to listen to our kids, acknowledge their feelings, and engage in meaningful conversations, we build trust. They learn they can come to us with problems, dreams, and concerns.
  

  Kids make many mistakes. They do a lot of dumb things. If we are focused on the bad stuff, there is no room to celebrate all their accomplishments. Create an environment where your kids can approach you about any subject.
  

• Teaching Emotional Intelligence: Good communication helps children develop emotional intelligence by encouraging them to express their feelings healthily. Instead of bottling up emotions or acting out, they learn how to articulate their thoughts and work through challenges.
  

  One of my bad habits is I have a bit of a temper. Not something I am overly proud of, but emotional intelligence is a skill I am continuously refining. I am a smart guy who can express myself well, but when my emotions get high, my ability to communicate goes low.
  

  I often joke with my friends that I can only get mad in "polite" Japanese. In Japan, this is called kudaketa nihongo. Casual/Colloquial speech. This is informal, everyday Japanese, used among close friends and peers. It often drops polite endings and includes slang.
  

  For example, "sore wa yokunai yo" means "That is not good." The more casual form would be "sore dame daro!" means "That's not good, man!"
  

  I realize that my emotional intelligence can be reduced in heated situations, so it is extra essential for me to help my kids better develop their emotional intelligence and communicate well in situations where communication is difficult.
  

• Encouraging Independence and Critical Thinking: Engaging in open conversations with our kids—asking their opinions, discussing different perspectives, and helping them articulate their reasoning—fosters independence and critical thinking skills that will serve them for life.
  

• Leading by Example: When we demonstrate good communication—through patience, clarity, and respect—we set an example for how they should communicate with others. Kids learn more from what we do than what we say.

Improving how we communicate with our children gives them a lifelong advantage, equipping them with the tools they need to express themselves confidently and build strong relationships throughout their lives.

Some Hints on How to Improve Communication

Improving communication is a lifelong pursuit, but a few intentional practices can significantly enhance your ability to connect and articulate effectively:

• Listen More Than You Speak: Great communication isn’t just about talking; it’s about understanding. Active listening involves fully concentrating on what the other person is saying, rather than formulating your response while they’re talking.
  

• Be Clear and Concise: People appreciate direct, well-structured communication. Avoid unnecessary jargon or over-explaining when a simple message will do.
  

• Adapt to Your Audience: Speak to people in a way they understand. A child conversation will differ from one with a business executive. The best communicators know how to tailor their message to their audience.
  

• Use Stories to Make a Point: People connect with stories more than facts and figures. If you want to make your message memorable, frame it relatable.
  

• Practice Nonverbal Communication: Your body language, eye contact, and tone of voice often convey more than your words. Being aware of these elements can help reinforce your message.
  

• Seek Feedback and Improve: Ask trusted friends, mentors, or colleagues how to improve your communication skills. The more intentional you are about improvement, the more powerful your communication will become.

I am giving minimal hints, so I wanted to also arm you with some of the top training courses that you can find online:

• Dale Carnegie’s “Effective Communications and Human Relations” is probably the most famous training on my list. Dale Carnegie's courses focus on leadership, public speaking, and interpersonal communication.

  Website: Dale Carnegie Training (https://www.dalecarnegie.com/)

• Toastmasters International is another popular program focusing on public speaking, leadership, and confidence building.

  Website: Toastmasters (https://www.toastmasters.org/)

• Harvard Business School Online - “Persuasive Communication” is interesting because it adds storytelling to the mix along with persuasive speaking and business communication.

  Website: Harvard Online (https://online.hbs.edu/)

• Coursera - “Introduction to Public Speaking” (University of Washington) is an online course on structuring speeches, delivery techniques, and confidence.

  Website: MasterClass (https://www.masterclass.com/)

• Extreme Ownership Academy (Jocko Willink) is a paid course based on discipline, execution, and extreme ownership. The courses can be individually selected and have courses specific to communication, such as: How To Build Relationships, The Indirect Approach, The Debrief, and The Readback.

  Website: Extreme Ownership Academy (https://academy.echelonfront.com/product-category/communication/)

Each of these courses provides valuable techniques for becoming a better communicator, whether for public speaking, business settings, or interpersonal relationships. 

Final Thoughts

Communication is one of the most important skills you can develop. It touches every part of your life—from your relationships to your career to the opportunities that come your way. Like any skill, it requires practice, reflection, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Stacking skills makes us more effective, independent, and successful. Good communication is a critical skill to add to the stack.

Communication is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal—it multiplies the impact of everything else you do. Master it, and you open doors that you never knew existed.

Start today.

Listen more actively, express yourself more clearly, and practice adapting your message to your audience. The ability to communicate well is not just a tool—it’s a superpower.

The Day Warrior

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