Episode Details

Excessive corporate jargon and endless meetings have caused many team members to tune out, even during important meetings. So it's no surprise that, although everyone initially agrees on the plan, friction between teams begins as soon as the work starts. In this practical episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with strategic communications expert Eileen Wixted to diagnose why alignment breaks down, and exactly how to fix it. Eileen debunks the myth that communication is a "soft skill," revealing why it's actually a hard, hardwirable discipline as critical as math or science.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why "Clear is Kind" Isn't Just a Saying

“High-performing teams have a high-performing communication culture. You cannot have one without the other.”

How leaders waste time, energy, and money communicating after solving problems, and the simple shift to putting communication at the center of every decision.

Alignment vs. Agreement

“You don't have to agree. But once the decision is made, you align and carry the flag.”

A masterclass in how executive teams can debate fiercely, then move forward as one.

The PEAR Model for High-Stakes Communication

“A high-performing leadership team begins with its ability to communicate well.”

A practical framework (People, Environment, Assets, Reputation) to assess any crisis or sensitive situation, even when you have no time to prepare.

Tabletop Drills Are the New Crisis Plans

Why 120-page binders don't work anymore, and how running short, injection-based crisis simulations prepares your team for real-world chaos.

_________________________________

"Soft" problems often have hard consequen

ces, and misalignment is one of them. The main problem is that it is difficult to spot without training and is often confused with a lack of motivation or accountability.

Can you clearly identify when your team is misaligned?

Learn how to identify misalignment in our latest blog post. "Identifying Misalignment. Is your team not working toward the same goal?"

_________________________________

About the Guest:

Eileen Wixted is a nationally recognized strategic communications and crisis management veteran and the principal of Wixted & Company. A former Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist. Her firm has been named an Agency Elite Top 120 Firm by PRNews for four consecutive years, and she was named the Des Moines Business Record's 2016 Woman Business Owner of the Year. Today, she helps executives find the courage and the words to communicate in a way that builds understanding, trust, and lasting alignment, because as she puts it, "you can make great business decisions, but if you don't know how to communicate them, they will never get implemented."

Social Handles

Website: https://www.thinkwixted.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-wixted-97b4796/

Fun Facts:

🍝 Eileen is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and brings that direct, no-nonsense style to everything she does.

🍽️ Her first job was as a waitress at a Coney Island diner, where you could not write anything down or use a tray to carry the food. Arms only!

🕺 She also won the Big Daddy's disco contest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Yes, really.)

_________________________________

About Melinda:

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in