Communicast: A Communication Skills Podcast

Great Communication Starts With Intention

Episode Summary

Great communication starts before you say a word. In this episode of Communicast, Scott D’Amico sits down with career coach Michelle Shafer to explore why intentionality, clarity, preparation, and listening play such important roles in how we communicate at work. Michelle shares lessons from helping professionals navigate career transitions, including why communicating your impact matters more than simply listing your responsibilities, how to tell your professional story more effectively, and why networking conversations often fall flat when people aren't clear about what they're asking for. Scott and Michelle also explore the power of the pause, how preparation can make you a better listener, the unspoken messages leaders send when they're distracted, and why transparency and the willingness to say “I don't know” can strengthen trust during uncertain times. They also discuss interviews, relationship-building when starting a new role, communicating through organizational change, and why some of the most effective communicators focus less on what they're going to say next and more on truly understanding the person in front of them. Whether you're navigating a career change, leading others, or simply looking to communicate with greater clarity and purpose, this conversation offers practical ideas you can put to work immediately.

Episode Notes

Great communication starts before you say a word.

In this episode of Communicast, Scott D’Amico sits down with career coach Michelle Shafer to explore why intentionality, clarity, preparation, and listening play such important roles in how we communicate at work.

Michelle shares lessons from helping professionals navigate career transitions, including why communicating your impact matters more than simply listing your responsibilities, how to tell your professional story more effectively, and why networking conversations often fall flat when people aren't clear about what they're asking for.

Scott and Michelle also explore the power of the pause, how preparation can make you a better listener, the unspoken messages leaders send when they're distracted, and why transparency and the willingness to say “I don't know” can strengthen trust during uncertain times.

They also discuss interviews, relationship-building when starting a new role, communicating through organizational change, and why some of the most effective communicators focus less on what they're going to say next and more on truly understanding the person in front of them.

Whether you're navigating a career change, leading others, or simply looking to communicate with greater clarity and purpose, this conversation offers practical ideas you can put to work immediately.

Additional Resources:

► Follow Communispond on LinkedIn for more communication skills tips: https://www.linkedin.com/company/communispond
► Connect with Scott D'Amico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdamico/
► Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/ 
► Learn more about Michelle’s work: https://mschafercoaching.ca/   
►Get a free chapter of her book: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/  
► Subscribe to Communicast: https://communicast.simplecast.com/
► Learn more about Communispond: https://www.communispond.com