Communication is King

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt throughout my career, across classrooms, studios, and boardrooms. It’s this: communication is king.

It’s not just about speaking clearly. It’s about connection, the ability to reach someone where they are and bring them into shared understanding. Communication is what transforms teaching into learning, leadership into collaboration, and ideas into action. Without it, even the best intentions can fall flat.

A Lesson from José

Years ago, I worked with a boy who was neurodivergent named José. Brilliant mind, deeply creative, but communication was a challenge for both him and me.

At first, I struggled. I relied on the usual cues, verbal explanations, visual prompts, and positive reinforcement. But José didn’t respond in the ways I expected. He’d look away when I spoke, fidget when I asked questions, and sometimes go silent altogether. I used to think he wasn’t engaging. The truth was, I wasn’t listening properly.

So I slowed down. I began to observe how he communicated. Through rhythm, silence, and subtle gestures. Over time, I learnt to meet him there. I mirrored his patience, respected his pace, and celebrated his quiet victories.

José taught me that communication isn’t about volume or fluency. It’s about empathy, presence, and genuine curiosity. He made me a more patient teacher and, honestly, a better human being.

What the world taught me

Since that experience, I’ve spent the past 15 years teaching across different countries. In each place I learnt something new.

In China, I learnt the value of restraint, that silence can be as powerful as speech.

In Ecuador, I learnt that warmth and openness build bridges faster than credentials ever will. In Spain, I learnt to blend passion with patience and to speak with both energy and empathy.

Each place reshaped how I listen, how I lead, and how I connect.

The Takeaways

In a world obsessed with productivity and results, it’s easy to forget that communication is the medium through which everything meaningful happens.

So yes, communication is king. But not the kind that commands. The kind that connects.