Ken Blanchard, in his book – The One Minute Manager, said that communication is the breakfast of champions. He was right. I can’t think of a more valuable skill for team members, supervisors and managers than the ability to communicate up, down, and across the organization. Communication is everything. If the other person doesn’t receive the message as intended, then whatever you said will mean absolutely nothing. Effective communication takes two – you, the sender and the receiver. We aren’t born knowing how to communicate in a way that everyone will understand. You can learn to speak with authority and influence.

Worth Remembering – One of the indispensable functions of informal organizations is communication. – Chester Barnard.

The Communication Process.

. The sender must be clear on what message they want to send, and how they want to send it.

. The message needs to be sent in a language the receiver will understand.

. The receiver must interpret the message’s meaning and purpose and decide how to respond to the sender’s message.

And if that’s not challenging enough, throw into the mix the five different generations that make up today’s workforce, and how each generation communicates differently, you can begin to understand why communicating effectively can be difficult.

Worth Remembering – I know you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. – Robert J. McCloskey.

Generational Communication Differences.

Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, prefer to communicate in person. Most aren’t big on writing notes or mailing cards

Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1983, prefer to communicate directly and immediately. They want answers, and they want them right now.

Millennials, those born between 1984 and 1996, prefer to communicate electronically via email, text, or phone.

Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, prefer digital, instant, and visual communication, favouring messaging, social media, and short-form content.

Generation Alpha, those born between 2012 and 2024, are the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age. They are rooted in technology and, like Generation Z, they prefer instant messaging, social media, and interactive platforms like Zoom.

If you want to be a more effective communicator, learn to communicate in a way that the receiver prefers. If you can, they are more likely to be receptive to what you are saying. You can learn to speak with authority and influence.

Copyright 2026 – Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker for your next event, or planning an in-person training session? Brian works with people who want to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflicts or motivate others to perform at their best.