By Diane DiResta, CoachSource Qualified Executive Coach & Certified Speaking Professional
September 2025
Communication is often the deciding factor between a capable leader and an exceptional one. At the senior level, leaders are no longer evaluated solely on what they know or even what they do—but on how effectively they convey ideas, influence outcomes, and instill confidence across stakeholders.
Yet communication is too frequently underestimated. It’s labeled a soft skill, delegated to training sessions, or viewed as something people “should already know.” But in reality, it’s a leadership differentiator—and a powerful lever that can be the make or break in successful business performance. In senior leaders, developing communication skills consistently ranks in the top 3 themes of executive coaching engagements, providing the space, structure, and strategy for developing that capability in the upper echelons of leadership.
When Communication Drives Business Results
Executive communication isn’t just about clarity. It’s about creating outcomes—persuading a board, earning investor confidence, rallying a team behind change, or aligning a matrixed organization.
I worked with a CEO preparing to gain board approval for a $300 million investment in new infrastructure. Through coaching, he was able to articulate the opportunity in terms of strategic value, risk management, and organizational return. He secured approval. That investment ultimately yielded over $1 billion in profit.
In another engagement, a leadership team preparing for Investor Day refined their messaging, pacing, and delivery strategy through executive coaching. Analysts responded positively, and the company’s stock price rose 2.1%. Communication doesn’t just reflect competence—it amplifies enterprise value.
The Risk of Overlooking High-Potential Leaders
Some of the most promising leaders are the least visible. These “quiet performers” often excel operationally but haven’t developed the communication presence required to influence beyond their function.
They may hesitate to speak up in senior meetings, default to technical detail, or struggle to frame ideas in business terms. What they lack is not potential—it’s visibility, influence, and executive presence.
Executive coaching helps surface and elevate these individuals. It gives them the confidence and capability to project authority, shape decisions, and take on broader leadership responsibility. Without this support, organizations risk losing—or underutilizing—some of their most capable future leaders.
Executive Communication as a Cultural Driver
Leadership communication doesn’t exist in isolation. It must align with, and reinforce, the organization’s culture.
In high-growth or fast-paced companies, leaders need to communicate quickly and decisively. In consensus-driven environments, they must be diplomatic and inclusive. In global organizations, they need cross-cultural fluency.
A mismatch between how a leader communicates and how the organization functions creates friction, misinterpretation, and loss of trust. Executive coaching helps leaders understand and adjust their messaging to be culturally coherent—so they can influence authentically within their organizational context.
Leading Across Generations
With five generations in today’s workforce, senior leaders must be able to speak across age, expectation, and communication preference.
Younger employees may expect transparency, informal tone, and real-time feedback. Older stakeholders may place higher value on hierarchy, formality, or precision. Misalignment in communication style can lead to disengagement, confusion, or missed opportunities.
Executive coaching helps leaders become more audience-aware—learning to flex their approach based on who they’re communicating with and what the moment demands. This adaptability strengthens engagement across levels and supports succession efforts.
The Role of AI in Improving Communication Skills
AI can support communication development—but it can’t replace the human dimension of leadership.
Technology may offer feedback on speech pacing, filler words, or tone. It can help draft content or simulate scenarios. But AI lacks emotional intelligence. It cannot sense a room, adjust based on interpersonal nuance, or build trust in high-stakes conversations.
Executive coaching fills that gap. It helps leaders prepare not only their message but their mindset—equipping them to lead with empathy, presence, and situational awareness. These human capabilities are at the heart of leadership—and they’re irreplaceable.
Conclusion: Why Communication is a Critical Anchor in Executive Coaching
For HR and talent leaders, communication is one of the most direct, strategic reasons to invest in executive coaching. It’s observable. It’s measurable. And its impact is felt across the organization—from employee engagement and retention to investor confidence and cultural alignment.
When senior leaders communicate well, they move people. They move decisions. They move the business forward.
Executive coaching provides the tools, reflection, and feedback to build that kind of communicator—one who leads not just through words, but through clarity, credibility, and connection. In today’s complex, high-stakes environments, that’s not just valuable—it’s essential.
Interested in how executive coaching can build influence within your leadership team? Contact CoachSource to start the conversation.