Communication As Value Creation

Every conversation in the workplace is either an act of value creation or an act of value destruction, also known as waste.

As Mickey Connolly and Richard Rianoshek write in “The Communication Catalyst”, communication is the operating system for how value moves through an organization. This isn’t a soft skill!

When we invest in our communication - listening with presence and curiosity, speaking with attunement and clarity - we create trust, alignment, and value.
But when assumptions, fear, or overwhelm drive our behavior, we inadvertently create misunderstandings, defensiveness, and disengagement; all of which are wasteful.

Much of that will lead to either value or waste begins with perception.
Our brain is a prediction machine. The moment we sense a threat - a raised eyebrow, a sharp tone, a critical question - our nervous system shifts into fight, flight, or freeze.

We stop listening for understanding and start listening for protection.
In that state, we hear through filters:
* We defend instead of inquire.
* We confirm what we already believe.
* We miss what the other person actually needs or values.

This is where communication breaks down - not because people lack skill, but because they’ve lost presence.

When we bring awareness back online - pausing, grounding, and listening beyond words - and remove our perception filters, communication becomes a method of value creation again.

We can align on purpose, address real concerns, and design actions that matter and work for everyone’s shared goals.

So the useful question to ask for any leader isn’t “Did I get my message across?”
It’s “Did this conversation add value?”

As I reflect on this, I see how difficult that shift continues to be for me - not because it’s a complex concept to understand, but because of how easily my personality and habits take over.

That’s why daily centering practices matter so much: they deepen our self-awareness and our ability to pause and choose responses instead of reacting automatically.

Imagine if every team meeting or 1-1 check-in started with that shared intention - to create value, not waste.