Building What Works

If quick fixes consistently fail, what does work? Sustainable improvement requires tackling root causes rather than symptoms. It means embedding communication skill-building into real projects, decisions, and feedback processes, rather than isolating it in artificial exercises. It demands systems that foster ongoing diagnosis and adaptation—what Peter Senge called a learning organization. High-impact organizations treat communication […]

What Surface Fixes Miss

The common thread across these failed solutions is a misunderstanding of root causes. Communication challenges rarely stem from individual inadequacy or missing tools. They emerge from systemic, often invisible patterns of interaction—deep structures that shape how people speak, listen, and make sense of their work. Undiscussable Issues Chris Argyris identified a powerful obstacle: undiscussable issues. […]

When Structure Can’t Rewire Culture

Reorgs Can’t Rewire Culture When tools fail to unite teams, leaders often reach for a second lever: structural change. Shift reporting lines. Flatten the hierarchy. Reorganize cross-functional teams. There can be value in redesigning structures, especially when true barriers exist. But evidence shows that restructuring alone rarely sustains positive change. Edgar Schein’s research demonstrates why: […]

Why New Tools Won’t Fix Broken Trust

When leaders see fragmented communication, they often default to adding new channels. The logic seems sound: more pathways should equal better collaboration. Yet research consistently shows that channels move data, but climate moves people. Communication channels are the platforms, meetings, and processes that carry messages. Communication climate is the psychological environment that determines whether people […]

When Solutions Become Problems

Recent studies reveal a stubborn paradox: organizations today have more tools to communicate than ever, yet employees increasingly feel unheard, disconnected, and disengaged. Gallup reports that only 21% of workers worldwide feel engaged at work—a decline from 23% just a year earlier. Evidence shows that quick-fix solutions, no matter how well intentioned, fail to address […]