Why “because I said so” doesn’t work for leaders anymore

I once coached a VP leading a digital transformation across three continents. She had no formal authority over the teams she needed to engage, just a high-stakes mandate and a tight timeline. Her initial meetings landed with silence. No one pushed back, but no one leaned in, either. It wasn’t until she shifted how she communicated—not what she said, but how—that momentum started to build.

In environments defined by complexity and change, influence matters more than hierarchy. Yet many leaders still lean on outdated methods: top-down messaging, overreliance on data, or blanket statements designed to “cascade” through an organization. These tactics often create distance rather than buy-in.

Persuasive communication isn’t about being charismatic or loud; it’s about being clear, empathetic, a