The Communicative Leader

Dr. Leah OH
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

Think leadership requires years of training or a corner office? Think again. The Communicative Leader is your weekly guide to mastering the one skill that actually dictates your career trajectory: how you communicate. I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH, a leadership communication expert, bestselling author, professor, and consultant. With nearly 15 years of hard-won experience in industry before transitioning into academia, I bridge the gap between complex organizational research and the real-world obstacles you face every day. With over 100 episodes in the archive—featuring insights from international CEOs and innovative startup founders—we’ve broken down the barriers to effective leadership. Why focus on your communication? Because it’s the primary yardstick others use to decide if you are a leader. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry—I’ve got you. We cut through the jargon to give you small, meaningful, and actionable shifts you can apply immediately. Stop waiting for your workplace culture to change on its own. You have the power to shape your own professional narrative, one conversation at a time. Ready to make your work life what you want it to be? Let’s have some fun and get to work. Got a question or a topic you’d like us to tackle? I’d love to hear from you. Send your questions or a voice note to TheCommunicativeLeader@gmail.com.

  1. 5d ago

    Project Recovery: Eliminating the Bottlenecks of Misalignment and Restoring Predictable Delivery

    Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a vision-casting exercise, but the reality of leadership is often found in the muck of execution. When a high-stakes project begins to drift—missing deadlines, creeping in scope, or draining budgets—we tend to look for technical failures. But more often than not, a project in trouble is actually a project with a communication breakdown.   Today’s guest is a Project Physician of sorts, specializing in diagnosing and recovering troubled initiatives for everyone from the Fortune 500 to agile start-ups. Joining us is Richard Broo, the founder of True North PMP Consulting. With over 40 years of experience in manufacturing, advanced materials, and technology, Richard is a master of project audit and recovery. He is a certified PMP, Agile, and Scrum expert who helps companies eliminate the bottlenecks of dysfunction to restore predictability and profitability.   In today’s episode, we’re diving into the root causes of project failure, how to communicate expectations that actually stick, and how leaders can use a no-nonsense approach to stop scope creep and reclaim their team's performance.

  2. Jul 15

    The Curiosity Crisis: Why We Stopped Nurturing Thinkers and How to Reclaim Deep Engagement

    Welcome to another episode of The Communicative Leader! I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH. We often talk about leadership as a series of directives—managing tasks, hitting metrics, and providing answers. But in our quest for efficiency and oversight, have we accidentally designed curiosity out of our organizations? When did leadership stop nurturing thinkers and start simply managing behavior?   Today’s guest argues that the most effective model for modern leadership isn’t found in a corporate handbook, but in the heart of a great classroom. Joining us is Dr. Katie Trowbridge, the author of Lead Boldly, Think Deeply and the CEO of Curiosity 2 Create. A former marketing executive who pivoted into education, Katie has spent over 25 years helping students—and now executives—move beyond "survival mode" and surface-level wins. Through her CREATE Method™, she bridges the gap between technical leadership and the art of teaching to help teams reclaim their ability to think critically, lead purposefully, and solve problems with courage.   In today’s episode, we’re diving into why curiosity disappears under constant oversight, how to transform managers into mentors, and what leaders can learn from exceptional educators about building high-trust, high-engagement cultures.

  3. Jul 8

    The Legacy of Clarity: Turning Your Mission into a Movement with Michelle Vandepas

    Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest barrier to your impact isn't a lack of data, but the lack of a resonant message? In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Vandepas—founder of Grace Point Publishing, TEDx speaker, and creator of the Divine and Dangerous Leadership Framework—to explore how visionary leaders build authority that lasts beyond their tenure. Michelle challenges the traditional "command-and-control" mindset, arguing that true leadership authority isn't about what you say in a meeting; it’s about the body of work you build and the legacy you leave behind. We dive into the mechanics of her "Divine and Dangerous" framework, why subtraction is the secret to a powerful message, and how to stay grounded when the scrutiny of leadership starts to feel like noise. In this conversation, we explore: The "Golden Thread": How to identify the core message that connects every stage of your career.The Danger of Truth: Why the most dangerous—and essential—act a leader can take is telling the truth to themselves.Subtraction as Strategy: How to strip away the "noise" of bells and whistles to focus on the one outcome your audience actually needs.Embodiment vs. Performance: How to step into a bigger version of yourself as a leader without feeling like you’re wearing a "mask."Legacy Management: How to distinguish between the legacy you leave for your family and the one you leave for your professional industry.Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

  4. Jul 1

    The Ego Audit: Leading with Self-Awareness from the Front Lines to the C-Suite with Dr. Ron Camacho

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to lose trust isn’t a bad strategy—it’s a bruised ego that stops you from listening. In this episode, we sit down with North Charleston Chief of Police and FBI National Academy graduate Dr. Ron Camacho. We’re pulling back the curtain on the hidden “ego tax” that leaders pay every day through small, subtle communication choices that erode credibility and kill psychological safety. Chief Camacho gets remarkably honest about why therapy—not tactical training—was his real ego check. He shares how confronting his own anger and blind spots transformed him from a "command-and-control" SWAT commander into a leader who understands that "many minds are better than one" is the ultimate tactical advantage. In this conversation, we explore: The Ego Audit: The exact questions you should ask yourself before walking into any high-stakes meeting.The "Newest Voice" Advantage: How to create an environment where the best idea wins, regardless of rank or tenure.Empathy as a Tool: Why moving away from command-and-control isn’t "soft"—it’s how you actually win the community and the room.The Power of the Sincere Apology: Why owning your missteps—backed by real accountability—is the fastest way to raise your professional stature.If you are ready to stop needing to be right and start leading with presence, this conversation will give you the language and habits you need. Subscribe to The Communicative Leader and join the conversation. What is one ego-driven habit you are going to challenge this week? Let us know in the reviews. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

  5. Jun 24

    Communicating Earned Certainty: Leadership Lessons from the FBI to the Boardroom with MK Palmore

    Send us Fan Mail The Command-and-Control model is failing today’s leaders. In a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, brute force and rigid hierarchies don't build accountability—they build fear. But what if you could trade that friction for speed, trust, and real impact? In this episode, we sit down with MK Palmore to explore the radical shift from "manager" to "influencer." We’re moving past the theory to bring you practical, repeatable communication strategies that help your team move faster with less anxiety. We’re breaking down how to: Stop dictating, start translating: Convert complex risks (like cybersecurity) into business-critical language.Build the "Trust Tax" buffer: Learn why preparing your team for change is the fastest way to earn their ownership.Master the "Earned Certainty" model: How to hold authority while remaining open to being wrong.Hire for resilience: Why you should walk away from any candidate who can’t describe a genuine failure.If you’re ready to stop focusing on your personal achievements and start mastering the art of helping others excel, this conversation is for you. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

  6. Jun 17

    The Negotiation Mindset: Why Every Interaction is a Deal in Motion with Derrick Chevalier

    Send us Fan Mail Most of us think negotiation starts when the stakes are high and the numbers hit the table. We see it very differently. Negotiation is baked into leadership communication: asking for headcount, defending a plan, setting boundaries, earning buy-in, and navigating conflict without losing momentum. That’s why we sat down with Derrick Chevalier, an Amazon number one best-selling author, certified mediator, and negotiation trainer known for helping leaders turn objections into opportunities. We dig into power vs influence and why those two paths can create the same outcomes through completely different mechanisms. Derrick challenges old-school negotiation tactics that sound smart on paper but can leave you negotiating against yourself, including the way many people define “win-win.” Instead, we focus on what top performers do differently: they measure success by the new information they uncover and the better options that become possible because of it. You’ll also learn Derrick’s “objection flip” for handling a hard no without getting rattled, plus IWA questions (if, what, where, when, who, how) to find what you don’t know when pressure is high. We close with practical guidance on presence, matching demeanor to the room, de-escalating tension, and clearing conflict fast so teams can move with speed and clarity. If you want stronger negotiation skills, better conflict resolution, and a simpler way to lead conversations toward results, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a leader who gets too many objections, and leave a review with the biggest negotiation challenge you want us to tackle next. Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

  7. Jun 10

    The Precision Leader: High-Stakes Lessons from NASA to the Boardroom

    Send us Fan Mail When your team is overwhelmed, it’s tempting to solve it with more messages, more meetings, and more pressure. We go the other direction: clearer requirements, fewer priorities, and communication that actually holds up under stress. Our guest, John Mollura, spent 15 years inside mission-critical operations supporting NASA and elite military units before moving into executive performance coaching, and he brings that test-ops precision to the messy realities of modern leadership. We dig into the most common “low precision” habit John sees in executives: giving direction that sounds urgent but doesn’t define what success is. You’ll hear how to set guardrails without micromanaging, how Colin Powell’s 40-70 rule helps you make decisions without waiting for perfect information, and why “up, down, and across” communication prevents the Friday-afternoon blindside. We also tackle perfectionism head-on, replacing the myth of flawless performance with a repeatable excellence mindset built on debriefs, learning, and clear specs. If your calendar keeps disappearing, we break down intentional time management and the “next right action” approach that helps leaders reclaim focus. We also explore nonverbal leadership communication, including posture, presence, and the subtle signal your phone sends when it’s on the table. Finally, John shares his simple HIT framework for firefighting mode: Halt, Identify what’s important, Take decisive action, plus a curiosity-first mindset that helps teams reorient fast. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a teammate, and leave a review so more leaders can communicate with intention and lead with purpose. What’s one message you’ll tighten up this week? Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

  8. Jun 8

    Best of the Rest, Season 9

    Send us Fan Mail Command and control leadership is failing quietly, and the bill shows up everywhere: disengaged teams, slow decisions, meeting overload, and a culture where people smile on camera and vent in side channels. We’re marking a season nine milestone and pulling the strongest patterns into one practical leadership communication framework you can use immediately. We start with a different definition of “peace” at work through shalom: nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lacking. From there, we get painfully real about why values statements and glossy culture initiatives collapse when they aren’t integrated into daily operations. Radical clarity becomes the through-line, not as micromanagement, but as a form of kindness that sets guardrails, protects organizational value, and increases decision velocity. We also unpack the shift from treating organizations like machines to treating them like living human ecosystems, including the three fields leaders must read: activity, relationship, and context. Then we get tactical: meeting management as culture, navigating the first 100 days without being too loud or too absent, and the delicate balance of vulnerability versus authority. We talk nervous system regulation and physiological grounding tools like the belly button reset, plus conflict literacy scripts that de-escalate in real time, including how changing “why” to “what” reduces defensiveness. We close with fairness as smart business, the WINS method for workplace systems and wellness, and two 30-day challenges, including a strict ban on resolving conflict over Slack. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a leader who needs clearer tools, and leave a review so more teams can build trust through better communication. What’s one conversation you’ve been avoiding that you’re ready to handle differently? Support the show I've poured all my best work into my newest book, Amplifying Your Leadership Voice: From Silent to Speaking Up. If today's episode resonated with you, I know the book will be a powerful tool. You can order it now!  Thanks for listening and for being a part of The Communicative Leader community. To get even more exclusive tips—like the ones we talked about today—join us at TheCommunicativeLeader.com.

See All (111)

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Think leadership requires years of training or a corner office? Think again. The Communicative Leader is your weekly guide to mastering the one skill that actually dictates your career trajectory: how you communicate. I’m your host, Dr. Leah OH, a leadership communication expert, bestselling author, professor, and consultant. With nearly 15 years of hard-won experience in industry before transitioning into academia, I bridge the gap between complex organizational research and the real-world obstacles you face every day. With over 100 episodes in the archive—featuring insights from international CEOs and innovative startup founders—we’ve broken down the barriers to effective leadership. Why focus on your communication? Because it’s the primary yardstick others use to decide if you are a leader. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry—I’ve got you. We cut through the jargon to give you small, meaningful, and actionable shifts you can apply immediately. Stop waiting for your workplace culture to change on its own. You have the power to shape your own professional narrative, one conversation at a time. Ready to make your work life what you want it to be? Let’s have some fun and get to work. Got a question or a topic you’d like us to tackle? I’d love to hear from you. Send your questions or a voice note to TheCommunicativeLeader@gmail.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Leah OH
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Leah OH
  • Show Website
    The Communicative Leader