Think leadership requires years of training or a corner office? Think again. The Communicative Leader is your weekly guide to mastering the one skill that actually dictates your career trajectory: how you communicate. I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH , a leadership communication expert, bestselling author, professor, and consultant. With nearly 15 years of hard-won experience in industry before transitioning into academia, I bridge the gap between complex organizational research and the real-world obstacles you face every day. With over 100 episodes in the archive—featuring insights from international CEOs and innovative startup founders—we’ve broken down the barriers to effective leadership. Why focus on your communication? Because it’s the primary yardstick others use to decide if you are a leader. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry—I’ve got you. We cut through the jargon to give you small, meaningful, and actionable shifts you can apply immediately. Stop waiting for your workplace culture to change on its own. You have the power to shape your own professional narrative, one conversation at a time. Ready to make your work life what you want it to be? Let’s have some fun and get to work. Got a question or a topic you’d like us to tackle? I’d love to hear from you. Send your questions or a voice note to TheCommunicativeLeader@gmail.com .
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August 17, 2026Episode 328 min
The Frictionless Leader: Naming, Facing, and Solving the Issues That Stall Growth with Sue Hawkes
Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader ! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a journey toward growth, but for many organizations, that journey feels less like a sprint and more like a slog through thick mud. We see the symptoms—missed deadlines, team silos, and circular arguments—but we often tiptoe around the root causes because the truth feels too disruptive. Today’s guest is a truth-teller and doubt-slayer who argues that the only way to move faster is to stop avoiding the hard stuff. Joining us is Sue Hawkes, an Expert EOS Implementer™, CEO of YESS!, and the co-author of the brand-new book in the EOS Mastery Series, Issues: Remove Friction, Fast-Track Your Growth, and Ignite Your Greatness . Sue has been solving problems and helping people since she was a fifth-grader running her first door-to-door business. Today, she works with high-stakes leaders to clear the organizational clutter and build winning cultures where accountability isn't a threat—it's the fuel. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the Five-Star Success System, why naming your friction is the first step to eliminating it, and how to lead with enough courage and humor to make a high-accountability culture actually stick.
August 10, 2026Episode 250 min
Beyond the Spreadsheet: Leading with Empathy, Humanity, and Narrative
Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. In a world of digital noise and data-driven decisions, it is easy for leaders to forget that at the end of every email, every strategy deck, and every Slack message is a human being. We often prioritize efficiency over connection, forgetting that people don't follow spreadsheets—they follow people they trust. Today’s guest has spent over 30 years proving that the most effective way to lead is through the ancient art of storytelling and the simple, often overlooked power of kindness. Neal Foard is the founder of Storyfire and a former worldwide director of creative learning for Saatchi & Saatchi. He has shaped global campaigns for brands like Toyota, Sony, and Lexus, but today, he is perhaps best known for his stories about everyday humanity that have reached over half a million followers. He teaches leaders that marketing—and leadership—is ultimately about relationship-building and promise-keeping. In today’s episode, we’re exploring why kindness isn't soft—it's a measurable advantage—and how you can use the tools of a world-class creative director to communicate with more sincerity and impact.
August 3, 2026Episode 137 min
The High-Stakes of Presence: Scaling a $42M Company Without Losing Connection at Home
Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a high-stakes balancing act—juggling revenue targets, team growth, and strategic pivots. But as we move further into 2026, the most successful leaders are realizing that ambition doesn't have to come at the cost of personal well-being or meaningful relationships. The question is: how do we build systems that scale without burning ourselves, or our families, out in the process? Today’s guest is a masterclass in navigating that very intersection. Joining us is Kevin Rice, a seasoned entrepreneur and growth specialist who co-founded Hathway and scaled it from a scrappy startup to a $42M digital agency before its acquisition. Kevin has led growth for global consultancies of 5,000 professionals, but he is equally known for his work helping leaders show up for the people who matter most. As the host of the CEOs & ABCs podcast, Kevin teaches high performers how to take the executive skill set—building trust, managing stress, and clear communication—and apply it to their most important leadership role at home. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the mechanics of leading under pressure, why emotional presence is a survival tool in the boardroom and the living room, and how to use operational thinking to protect your connection with the people you lead and the people you love.
July 30, 2026Episode 812 min
Best of the Rest, Season 10: The Architecture of Modern Leadership
The season review of 'The Communicative Leader' explores the underlying architecture of modern leadership, focusing on themes of radical clarity and execution, negotiation, influence, self-awareness, and the shift from compliance to curiosity. Each theme delves into the essential elements of effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of precision, influence, self-awareness, and curiosity in driving organizational success. Takeaways Precision requires psychological safety, clear requirements, and proactive communication. Influence is about aligning credibility with the real-world constraints of the people you lead. Chapters 00:00 Foundational Pillar: Radical Clarity and Execution 04:41 Relational Engine: Negotiation, Influence, and Earn Certainty 07:27 Internal Mirror: Self-Awareness and the Ego Audit 10:15 Ultimate Shift: From Compliance to Curiosity
July 22, 2026Episode 730 min
Project Recovery: Eliminating the Bottlenecks of Misalignment and Restoring Predictable Delivery
Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader ! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a vision-casting exercise, but the reality of leadership is often found in the muck of execution. When a high-stakes project begins to drift—missing deadlines, creeping in scope, or draining budgets—we tend to look for technical failures. But more often than not, a project in trouble is actually a project with a communication breakdown. Today’s guest is a Project Physician of sorts, specializing in diagnosing and recovering troubled initiatives for everyone from the Fortune 500 to agile start-ups. Joining us is Richard Broo, the founder of True North PMP Consulting. With over 40 years of experience in manufacturing, advanced materials, and technology, Richard is a master of project audit and recovery. He is a certified PMP, Agile, and Scrum expert who helps companies eliminate the bottlenecks of dysfunction to restore predictability and profitability. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the root causes of project failure, how to communicate expectations that actually stick, and how leaders can use a no-nonsense approach to stop scope creep and reclaim their team's performance.
July 15, 2026Episode 630 min
The Curiosity Crisis: Why We Stopped Nurturing Thinkers and How to Reclaim Deep Engagement
Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader ! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a series of directives—managing tasks, hitting metrics, and providing answers. But in our quest for efficiency and oversight, have we accidentally designed curiosity out of our organizations? When did leadership stop nurturing thinkers and start simply managing behavior? Today’s guest argues that the most effective model for modern leadership isn’t found in a corporate handbook, but in the heart of a great classroom. Joining us is Dr. Katie Trowbridge, the author of Lead Boldly, Think Deeply and the CEO of Curiosity 2 Create. A former marketing executive who pivoted into education, Katie has spent over 25 years helping students—and now executives—move beyond "survival mode" and surface-level wins. Through her CREATE Method™, she bridges the gap between technical leadership and the art of teaching to help teams reclaim their ability to think critically, lead purposefully, and solve problems with courage. In today’s episode, we’re diving into why curiosity disappears under constant oversight, how to transform managers into mentors, and what leaders can learn from exceptional educators about building high-trust, high-engagement cultures.
January 30, 2023Episode 332 min
What YOU Need To Know About The Relationship You Share With Your Leader
Send us Fan Mail The leader-member relationship can get a bad rap. We've all likely had some managers who were, well, not so great in that role. We might have had a manager (or managers) who were pretty crummy. But I'm also hopeful that you've worked with a manager who helped you to grow and succeed. Some dismiss the relationship the share with their leader as one of little importance. Oh my friends, you couldn't be more wrong. This is a pivotal workplace relationship. Those with high quality relationships with their manager tend to make more money, enjoy more frequent promotions, and find more satisfaction in their work than those who have lower quality leader-member relationships. Today we're going to consider how this relationship develops, how it is maintained and how it largely shapes the answer to the following question: What is my workplace experience? Until next time, communicate with intention and lead with purpose. Looking for more tips? Join our weekly email list to receive episode recaps, previews, and most importantly, communication-rooted solutions for your everyday workday questions and experiences. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/h91B0v P.S. Check your spam folder...we like to send these out on Mondays :) Have a question for Dr. Leah OH? Is something at work driving you nuts? Have an idea for an episode? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you! Send us your questions and requests via email or a voice note to TheCommunicativeLeader@gmail.com. A special thank you to PR Manager, Michael Slowik, and graphic designer, David Birkam, for their contributions to The Communicative Leader. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up . If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now ! Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today— join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.
March 13, 2023Episode 827 min
The Dreaded C Word...Conflict: Navigating Workplace Conflict
Send us Fan Mail Conflict is not good or bad. Conflict is neutral. Conflict can be productive, but if it goes unaddressed or is not navigated tactfully it can also be damaging. Conflict is a normal part of organizational life. Today on the Communicative Leader, we dive into best practices for managing conflict, discuss conflict between leader and member and peers, and consider how to better understand our own conflict style. Until next time, communicate with intention and lead with purpose. Looking for more tips? Join our weekly email list to receive episode recaps, previews, and most importantly, communication-rooted solutions for your everyday workday questions and experiences. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/h91B0v P.S. Check your spam folder...we like to send these out on Mondays :) Have a question for Dr. Leah OH? Is something at work driving you nuts? Have an idea for an episode? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you! Send us your questions and requests via email or a voice note to TheCommunicativeLeader@gmail.com. A special thank you to PR Manager, Michael Slowik, and graphic designer, David Birkam, for their contributions to The Communicative Leader. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up . If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now ! Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today— join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.
March 31, 2025Episode 848 min
The Charismatic Edge: Mastering the Science of Influence – A Conversation with Richard Reid
Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to commanding a room isn't what you think? When Richard Reid found himself sharing a tent in Patagonia with a Welsh psychiatrist, he couldn't have imagined how that chance encounter would transform his understanding of human connection and leadership presence. Richard, an organizational psychologist and body language expert with 20+ years of experience coaching high-profile individuals, dismantles the most persistent myths about charisma. Forget the jazz hands and rehearsed speeches—true charisma begins with managing your internal world, creating bandwidth to genuinely connect with others. As Richard explains, charisma isn't reserved for extroverts or those born with a commanding presence. It's a skill anyone can develop, shaped by four distinct styles: authoritative, warmth, focused, and visionary. The most effective leaders move fluidly between these styles depending on what each situation demands. In our digital landscape, connection has become increasingly transactional. Richard offers practical strategies to counter this trend—from slowing conversations down to strategic uses of silence that create space for deeper insights. His approaches to breathing, body language, and intentional transitions between meetings provide immediately applicable tools for enhancing presence both virtually and in person. Perhaps most surprisingly, Richard reveals how vulnerability enhances rather than diminishes charismatic leadership. By sharing challenges authentically and creating environments where others feel seen and validated, leaders build deeper trust and inspire genuine connection. Whether you're leading a team or looking to enhance your personal influence, Richard's science-backed techniques offer a refreshing alternative to one-size-fits-all communication advice. From the 4-4-6 breathing method to questioning your autopilot behaviors, these small but powerful shifts can transform your presence and impact on others. Ready to discover your authentic charismatic edge? Listen now and learn how to create meaningful connections that inspire trust, foster innovation, and elevate your leadership presence. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up . If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now ! Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today— join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.
June 24, 2026Episode 326 min
Communicating Earned Certainty: Leadership Lessons from the FBI to the Boardroom with MK Palmore
Send us Fan Mail The Command-and-Control model is failing today’s leaders. In a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, brute force and rigid hierarchies don't build accountability—they build fear. But what if you could trade that friction for speed, trust, and real impact? In this episode, we sit down with MK Palmore to explore the radical shift from "manager" to "influencer." We’re moving past the theory to bring you practical, repeatable communication strategies that help your team move faster with less anxiety. We’re breaking down how to: Stop dictating, start translating: Convert complex risks (like cybersecurity) into business-critical language. Build the "Trust Tax" buffer: Learn why preparing your team for change is the fastest way to earn their ownership. Master the "Earned Certainty" model: How to hold authority while remaining open to being wrong. Hire for resilience: Why you should walk away from any candidate who can’t describe a genuine failure. If you’re ready to stop focusing on your personal achievements and start mastering the art of helping others excel, this conversation is for you. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up . If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now ! Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today— join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.
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