Communication Breakdowns Aren’t Harmless—They’re a Safety Risk

You ever noticed how a conversation can go sideways… without anyone raising their voice? 

Maybe you’ve been there. You think you’ve been crystal clear; given instructions, laid out expectations - and yet, somehow, something slips.

Deadlines missed. A step skipped. A safety check overlooked. And when you follow up, you get the same blank stare: “Oh, I thought you meant…” 

It’s rarely the big blow-ups that do the damage. It’s the slow drip of miscommunication that chips away at safety, trust, and performance. 

Because when people are unclear, unsure, or hesitant to speak up, it’s not just productivity that suffers. It’s safety. It’s credibility. 

And this applies at both ends of communication – the transmitter and the receiver. 

I had a conversation recently with a client who told me, “Kev, I’ve explained it ten times, but it’s like it disappears the minute they leave the room.” You could hear the frustration creeping in. 

Here’s what I’ve learned: communication isn’t about how many times you say it. It’s about how consistently and clearly you say it in a way the other person understands, AND how safe people feel to clarify, challenge, or question. 

It’s easy to think the message is landing because no one’s pushing back. But silence isn’t agreement. Silence is often uncertainty. 

Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, nails it: "If you can’t trust people to speak up and challenge you, you’ll never get real commitment." 

In high-stakes environments (like the ones you’re in every day) that lack of clarity doesn’t stay invisible forever. It shows up in near misses, strained relationships, or tasks getting redone because no one wants to admit they didn’t get it the first time. 

Intentional leadership flips that script. 

It’s not about overloading people with instructions. It’s about creating a culture where clear, honest communication is the norm. Where people know exactly what’s expected and feel confident to ask when they don’t. 

Here’s something to check in on: 

When was the last time you asked your team, “What didn’t land?” When was the last time you double-checked assumptions – both yours and theirs? 

Because intentional leaders don’t assume they’ve been heard. They make sure. 

You set the tone. Your clarity becomes the team’s clarity. 

And in safety roles, that clarity isn’t optional. It’s everything. 

If you’re seeing the signs of communication breakdowns, and you’re ready to strengthen the way you lead conversations, I’d love to chat.  

Let’s cut through the noise.