The 7 C's of Communication

Communication is the engine of leadership.

It shapes trust, culture, alignment, and performance.

And yet — in my 20 years working with international leaders and teams — it's also the #1 reason people feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, or disconnected at work.

Great communication doesn’t require being perfectly polished.

It requires being clear, human, intentional, and aligned.

That’s why I use the 7 C's of Communication across my coaching and programmes.

They’re simple enough to remember — and powerful enough to change how teams operate.

The 7 C's of Communication

1 — Clarity

Clear words remove confusion and speed execution.

Clarity is kindness — and efficiency.

2 — Connection

Communication is not just the transfer of information.

It’s building trust, rapport, and psychological safety.

3 — Courage

Say what needs to be said and learn how to say it — even when it’s uncomfortable.

Honest conversations prevent bigger problems later.

4 — Confidence

Your presence, delivery, and consistency make people listen.

Confidence is not loud — it’s aligned.

5 — Collaboration

High-performing teams communicate in ways that keep everyone rowing in the same direction — not working in silos.

6 — Curiosity

Listening well and asking thoughtful questions expands understanding and reduces assumptions.

7 — Compassion

Empathy creates inclusion, loyalty, and a human-first culture — especially in diverse teams.

How the 7 C's support my coaching programmes

Leadership Coaching

Leaders use the 7 C's to manage conflict, influence stakeholders, reduce stress, and communicate intentionally.

Team Communication & Collaboration

The 7 C’s become shared team agreements and behavioural norms — a common language that reduces friction and boosts cohesion.

Women in Leadership

They support confidence, visibility, voice, boundaries, and self-trust.

Executive Presence & Personal Branding

The 7 C’s create alignment between message, identity, behaviour, and leadership impact.

Why they work

Because communication challenges usually come from:

• unclear expectations

• mixed messages

• unspoken frustrations

• cultural misunderstandings

• stress or emotional overload

• lack of alignment

• fear of conflict

The 7 C’s address these root causes with a simple structure leaders and teams can use every day.

They’re memorable, practical, cross-cultural, and immediately actionable.