5 Keys to Leading with Effective Communications
February 19, 2026
All of us want to feel inspired, seen, and respected.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of most Americans, our national leaders are providing none of the above.
This is more than just a feeling.
Fewer than 1 in 5 Americans — 17% — say they trust the federal government to do what’s right, according to recent data from The Pew Research Center. This measure is one of the lowest in the nearly seven decades since Pew began asking this question as part of its National Election Study.
This represents a national crisis.
But it’s also a big opportunity for leaders who are focused on local issues. If you’re leading a community-based organization, you now have an opportunity to inspire your staff, supporters, and your community and help them meet the moment.
If you are in this role – or if you’re a communicator who supports a community-based leader – are you seizing the opportunity to fill the national leadership void with effective and inspiring communications?
Here are several ways to ensure you can answer that question with a resounding “yes!”
Know thyself
Authenticity is essential for your communications to resonate. And your authenticity shines through when you communicate in a distinctive voice that accurately reflects the tone and style you use in daily conversations. People are more open to receiving messages that sound real and relatable, not forced or overly formal.
Let compelling stories do the talking
As humans, we’re wired to respond to – and learn from – stories, so weaving real stories into your communications can be an incredibly powerful tool as you aim to drive deeper engagement and inspire support. Work with your communications leader to establish a process for capturing stories from the field that affirm your mission and highlight the work of your team members.
It can also be useful to have one of your communicators conduct what we call the Rolling Stone interview.A deep-dive interview can unearth stories from your lived experience that might resonate with your audience.
Anchor everything in Your "North Star"
The vast majority of your communications should have a common thread that connects to your core mission and vision. This “North Star” should be top of mind whether you’re sending a Slack message to your team or delivering a formal speech.
You’ll know you are on the right track when your entire team and key stakeholders are able to readily and clearly echo your organization’s mission and strategic priorities.
Focus on the "Rule of Seven"
Repetition matters — as evidenced by the marketing mantra that a person needs to hear a message at least seven times before they take action.
The same is surely true for social good leaders — especially when your ultimate ask is for commitment to a vision and intellectual and emotional investment in making it a reality.
And when it comes to donors or key partners, you are often seeking a financial investment.
Develop a communications calendar that assures your message is getting amplified frequently.
Make sure your actions match your words
This last one is vital.
You may be a brilliant, inspiring, and engaging communicator. But if your audience starts sniffing a disconnect between what you say and what you do, well, that might be worse than not communicating at all.
Make sure all of your communications are grounded in facts and reality.
If you say you’re going to do something, then do it.
And if for some reason you can’t deliver, explain why quickly and as honestly as possible. In these instances, some people might not like what they hear, but they will respect you for stepping up and taking responsibility.
That’s what true leaders do.
