The other week, I found myself in one of those conversations that makes you question everything. I was interviewing a potential podcast guest about dyslexia. 

 Specifically, how we can communicate better with neurodiverse minds. Because if we can identify, isolate, and then utilize the most effective ways of communicating with neurodiverse minds, we can be highly effective if we apply those same methods to communication with all individuals. Simple enough request, right?

Wrong. An hour later, I walked away having learned nothing useful.  Not because he lacked expertise, but because he couldn’t convey it. I had stared at brain scans I couldn’t interpret, got lectured about processing speeds in neural regions I will never understand, and was told my question was like asking a family doctor to predict when cancer cells disappear. Clearly, there was a disconnect between his level of expertise and mine. And he lacked a set of tools to bridge us together.  

The truth is, we’re all in the same boat. Because, let’s face it, we all assume everyone shares our level of passion, knowledge, and context. Whether we’re explaining quarterly projections to the board, rolling out a new strategy to the team, or trying to gain buy-in for our latest idea, there’s a piece of foundational work — I call it good housekeeping — that most of us skip. And in doing so, we lose the very people who could help us. That’s where you come in, and your role is crucial.  

Here’s what good housekeeping actually delivers:

When we take time to build understanding before diving into expertise, we create clarity over cleverness. Brilliant insights mean nothing if people can’t follow your logic. We can generate engagement over intimidation.  Because when people understand, they participate; when they’re confused, they check out. We build trust through transparency, because we explain our thinking and invite others to think alongside us. Most importantly, we drive action over assumption. Clear communication moves decisions forward while unclear communication stalls them. Sometimes, connection matters more than being right.

The bridge-building good housekeeping essentials:

Start with shared ground. Before diving into your expertise, establish what everyone already knows. For instance, in a team meeting, you could say, ‘We all agree revenue is down 12% this quarter, and we believe this is due to [specific reasons].’ or ‘For this conversation, the definition of the term sustainability is this …’ This creates a foundation everyone can stand on.  

Answer the “so what?” upfront. Please don’t make people work to understand why this matters to them. Lead with impact.  Fifty words or less.  Then and only then explain the details.  

Check for understanding, not agreement. “Does this make sense so far?” is more valuable than “Do you agree?” You can debate ideas once everyone’s actually following them.   The real lesson from my dyslexia disaster? That expert had valuable insights trapped behind assumptions I couldn’t navigate!  

How often do we repeat these same actions with our teams, boards, stakeholders, families, and friends? How many brilliant strategies never see daylight because we forgot to build the bridge between our expertise and their understanding? Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences. What could you have done differently? What can you do better in the future?  

What if the most powerful thing you could do this week was slow down just enough to bring everyone along? Your ideas deserve better than confused nods and polite silence. Your leadership deserves better than people pretending to understand. And honestly? The people counting on your guidance deserve clear and respectful communication.  

What’s one conversation where you could use better ‘housekeeping’ this week? I encourage you to identify that conversation and apply the principles of ‘good housekeeping ‘we’ve discussed.  

Let’s strive for more transparent, more engaging, and more effective communication in all our interactions. It’s in our best interests.