Ever think about what leads to truly PRODUCTIVE communication?

Ask a hundred people to describe the best leader they’ve ever had, and you’ll hear remarkably similar answers.

They won’t mention titles. They won’t talk about charisma or fancy strategy.

What they’ll remember are the moments—
how their leader made them feel valued…
how they were challenged with care…
how they left conversations feeling clearer, more capable, and more connected.

Great leadership isn’t built on big speeches.
It’s built on small, intentional interactions.

 

 

That truth is one of the central lessons in What Effective Leaders DO, a leadership parable that follows Jenn, a new manager trying to figure out how to lead her team with more influence and less frustration.

In a scene that will feel familiar to anyone who’s ever held a 1-on-1, given feedback, or led a meeting, Jenn’s mentor Tony introduces a visual tool that reframes leadership entirely—not as a title, but as a skill you demonstrate every time you interact with your team.

Let’s unpack the quadrant Tony shares with her, and explore how you can apply it immediately to strengthen trust, drive performance, and become the leader your people remember—for all the right reasons.

 

 

1. The 4 Interaction Types Every Leader Uses

Tony draws a simple cross in Jenn’s notebook—one axis for consideration, the other for compelling action. Where those lines meet, four quadrants emerge:

• Plain: Low consideration, low compelling
• Pointed: High compelling, low consideration
• Pleasant: High consideration, low compelling
• Productive: High consideration and high compelling

“Productive,” Tony tells Jenn, “is where effective leadership lives.”

 

Plain Communication

These are bland, forgettable, autopilot conversations.

They don’t upset anyone, but they don’t inspire much either. You go through the motions. Nothing gets challenged. No one grows. It’s transactional and forgettable.

❌ Result: No offense taken… and no progress made.

 

Pointed Communication

These conversations cut straight to the issue—but lack warmth.

You push for results, correct mistakes, or assign tasks without considering the tone or trust in the relationship. You might get compliance, but rarely commitment.

❌ Result: People feel pushed, not partnered with.

 

Pleasant Communication

These are polite, positive, and well-intentioned—but ultimately passive.

You check in, smile, encourage—but avoid discomfort. You steer clear of feedback, tough truths, or accountability.

❌ Result: People feel supported but not stretched.

 

Productive Communication

This is the sweet spot. These interactions are both kind and clear. Supportive and challenging. They affirm the person while advancing the goal.

✅ Result: People feel seen, respected, and motivated to improve.

 

2. Productive Communication Is CHOICE  

One of the biggest misunderstandings in leadership is that effective influence comes from personality: charisma, confidence, extroversion.

But that’s not true.

The most effective leaders aren’t always the loudest. They’re the most intentional.

What Tony helps Jenn realize (with the help of an old adjustable wrench he carries in his back pocket) is that great leaders adjust. Not just their message—but their approach.

And that requires awareness.

Awareness of:

• Your tone
• Your timing
• Your team’s needs
• And how your words actually land—not just how they’re meant

The wrench, passed down from Tony’s father, becomes a metaphor:

“If you want better results, adjust your approach,” he says.
“Because leadership is your ability to influence through interaction, and that means it’s your job to adjust.”

 

 

3. How to Shift Conversations into the Productive Quadrant

So how do you stop defaulting to “plain,” “pleasant,” or “pointed” and start having more productive conversations that build both trust and traction?

Here are three simple steps to practice daily:

✅ Step 1: Before you speak, scan your intent

Ask:

“Am I trying to protect their feelings, or push toward results?”
If your focus is skewed too far one way, aim to balance both.

✅ Step 2: Use the 3C Test in every key interaction

After the conversation, ask yourself:

• Was I considerate? (Did they feel respected and heard?)
• Was I clear? (Did they leave knowing what to do next?)
• Was I compelling? (Did I tap into purpose, ownership, or value?)

If even one answer is “no,” you’ve got an opportunity to improve.

✅ Step 3: Adjust, don’t avoid

Pleasant leaders avoid. Pointed leaders bulldoze.
Productive leaders adjust—with empathy and intention.

This might mean:

• Asking instead of telling
• Explaining instead of assuming
• Listening longer than feels natural
• Following up with encouragement and expectations

Jenn started doing this in her team huddles and one-on-ones. And the shift was tangible. Her people began to engage more, contribute more, and trust her more—not because she changed her personality, but because she changed her interactions.

 

4. Why This is Your Most Important Leadership Habit

Your team doesn’t need you to be a motivational speaker.
They don’t need you to be perfect.
They just need you to be present, prepared, and intentional.

Because your leadership isn’t measured by your strategy decks or KPIs.
It’s measured by how people feel after a meeting with you.

Did they feel heard?
Did they leave with clarity?
Did they feel valued and challenged?

That’s what productive leadership looks like. And it’s built one conversation at a time.

 

 

Want to Master the Leadership Skill That Changes Everything?

In What Effective Leaders DO, Jenn’s journey from tactical manager to intentional leader is filled with practical tools, relatable challenges, and wisdom-packed conversations like this one with Tony.

Through the story, you’ll learn how to:

• Move from plain or pointed to truly productive communication
• Adjust your leadership style without losing your authenticity
• Have conversations that build trust and drive progress
• Be the kind of leader your team actually wants to follow

Go Grab your copy of What Effective Leaders DO and start mastering the daily leadership behaviors that shape culture, connection, and results!

And if you’re looking to equip your leadership team with the mindset and tools to level up together, let’s talk.

As an experienced and interactive speaker and facilitator, I help managers and teams grow their influence, collaboration, and performance—one high-impact conversation at a time.

 

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Sean Glaze is a sought-after leadership and workplace culture speaker, who gained valuable insights on turning talent into teamwork as a successful basketball coach – and now he travels around the country to share those actionable lessons.

Sean’s engaging conference leadership keynotes and custom team building programs have helped clients like Cisco, John Deere, the CDC, and Emory University to increase collaboration, boost productivity, and build Sticky Cultures that inspire more profitable teamwork.

Sean’s books, Rapid Teamwork, What Effective Leaders DO, The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates, and Staying Coachable are entertaining parables that accelerate the growth of leaders and teams!