by Patrick Donadio
Do you have something important to say, but your team’s eyes glaze over and their attention drifts away? In today’s workplace, attention is a precious currency. Your message is at risk of being lost if it is not intentional and engaging.
Let’s explore two key elements from the IMPACT framework—I: Intention and A: Activate—to help you reclaim your team’s attention and make your message stick.
Start with Intention: Define Your “Why”
Before you speak, pause and ask yourself: Why am I communicating this? What do I want to achieve? . Most leaders jump straight to the “what” without clarifying the “why.” This leads to confusion and disengagement, especially in meetings and emails where information overload is rampant.
If your team doesn’t understand the purpose of your message, they’ll tune out before you even finish.
Tip: Take 60 seconds to define your intention. Write it down in one sentence, such as: “I want the team to understand the urgency of this deadline and feel confident we can meet it together.” This simple act of clarity shapes everything, from your tone to your delivery, and helps you avoid rambling or sending mixed signals.
Activate Attention: Make Your Message Impossible to Ignore
Even with a clear intention, your message can fall flat if it doesn’t activate your audience. Today’s workers are bombarded with notifications, meetings, and mental clutter. To cut through the noise, you need to engage both their minds and emotions.
This is critical in performance feedback and change communication, where stakes are high and attention is fragile. If your delivery is dry, vague, or overly technical, your message won’t land—and your team won’t act.
- Tip #1: Lead with a Story. Instead of diving into data, start with a relatable anecdote or a visual metaphor. For example, “Imagine trying to build a house with half the blueprint missing, that’s what happens when we skip project briefs.” Stories spark curiosity and emotion, making your message memorable.
- Tip #2: Match Your Non-Verbals. Your gestures, tone, and facial expressions should reinforce your words, not contradict them. If you’re announcing a win, smile and show enthusiasm. When addressing a serious issue, use calm, steady tones, and open body language. Your non-verbal cues build trust and credibility.
- Tip #3: Make It Interactive. Engagement is a dialogue, not a monologue. Ask questions, invite reactions, or use quick polls in meetings. The more your team participates, the more they retain.
Your team isn’t tuning you out because they don’t care; they’re overwhelmed and craving clarity. By starting with a clear intention and actively engaging their attention, you can transform your message from background noise into a powerful leadership tool. To stand out as a communicator, don’t just talk—communicate with IMPACT.
Stay tuned for next month’s article for more strategies to help you keep Communicating with IMPACT©.
© Copyright 2025 Patrick Donadio, MBA, CSP, MCC. Communication strategist, speaker, and author of Communicating with IMPACT©. Patrick helps leaders and teams elevate their communication and presentation skills, driving lasting results through high-impact presentations and communication coaching. He earned top global designations in both speaking and coaching. Connect with him at patrick@patrickdonadio.com or explore more at www.PatrickDonadio.com.