One of my favorite exercises with my team, is reviewing their writing.
I love to go over every word, and ask them about their intention. Effective communication is about reducing the variability of how the intended message can be interpreted. The less variability, the more effective the communication.
Gifted communicators choose their words very carefully.
Tone, pacing, and word choice are all essential elements of effective communication. Literally, a single word can change the meaning of a phrase. If you want to see how tone impacts a conversation, try smiling vs scowling on your next few phones calls or meetings.
I have met with leaders who have the best intentions and enormous goals, but their inability to effectively communicate stops them from reaching their potential. This is what separates great leaders from the rest. They understand that the same thing can be said three different ways and produce three different results, so they choose their words more thoughtfully.
Every word matters.