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The Biggest Mistake At Work (and how to fix it)
One simple fix that can change everything...
Justin Mecham
April 07, 2025
Hey Full Potential Zoners!
Great communication isn't talking more.
Most workplace problems don’t come from lack of skill— they come from unclear communication.
And the impact is real.
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👉 Every day without AI in your leadership is a missed opportunity.
Every conversation is a chance to connect or confuse.
Make your message clear.
Say what needs to be said—without the extra noise.
Give people the right information at the right time.
Listen as much as you speak.
Communication isn’t about saying more— it’s about being understood.
Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:
‘7 Cs of Communication'.
Let’s dive in!
Download This PDF + my Top 60+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email
How to Use the 7 Cs of Communication
1. Project Handoff Email (Clear + Complete + Correct)
Scenario: You’re handing off a project before your vacation.
Start the email with a clear subject line and summary.
List the exact project status, next steps, and who owns what.
Include links or file names with the latest versions.
Double-check the accuracy of dates and attachments.
End with “Let me know if anything’s unclear.”
2. Performance Review (Concrete + Courteous + Coherent)
Scenario: A manager is giving feedback to a team member.
Focus on 2–3 specific examples (not vague terms like “great attitude”).
Organize thoughts by category (communication, delivery, teamwork).
Use kind but direct language: “Here’s what went well” and “Here’s what to work on.”
Express appreciation for effort even if improvement is needed.
Avoid overloading the person—keep it focused and logical.
3. Requesting Support from a Busy Leader (Concise + Clear)
Scenario: You need a director’s approval on a marketing budget.
In the subject line: “Approval Needed: Q2 Marketing Budget (2 min review)”
State your ask in the first line.
Use bullet points for context: budget total, what changed, deadline.
Add a link to the doc. End with “Let me know if you’d like to talk this through.”
4. Fixing Miscommunication with a Peer (Coherent + Correct + Courteous)
Scenario: A teammate misunderstood your message in Slack.
DM them: “Hey, I think I may have miscommunicated. Mind if I clarify?”
Restate your point in a clearer, structured way.
Acknowledge their interpretation without being defensive.
Use neutral words like “It looks like I wasn’t clear on…”
Thank them for flagging the confusion.
5. Sharing a Proposal with a Cross-Functional Team (Concrete + Complete + Coherent)
Scenario: You’re sharing a new idea with people from sales, product, and engineering.
Start with a short summary of the goal.
Use 3–4 bullet points to describe what the idea solves and how.
Include the impact, timeline, and who it affects.
Link to a doc with more details and visuals.
Ask for feedback in a clear timeframe: “Can you share your thoughts by Friday?”
Concise
A company I was coaching had constant confusion around task assignments.
Team members were spending too much time trying to interpret long, unclear project emails.
Meetings ran over, updates were missed, and deadlines slipped because people didn’t fully understand what was expected.
I stepped in and focused on fixing how the team communicated updates.
I taught them to use short, clear subject lines, bullet points for action items, and limit their updates to three key facts: what’s done, what’s next, and what’s needed.
In meetings, I helped the manager prep one-minute summaries instead of twenty-minute rambles.
I also introduced a shared template for project updates that used short sentences and bold headers.
After just one week, updates were faster, easier to scan, and team members finally felt like they knew what was going on.
Project timelines improved because tasks were easier to follow.
Confusion dropped, and meetings ended 15 minutes earlier on average.
Extra tips you can use:
Cut filler words. Get to the point fast.
Use bullet points, not blocks of text.
Stick to one goal per message.
End with a clear next step. Nothing vague.
Ask: “Can someone understand this in 30 seconds?”
Clear and short always beats long and vague. Every word should earn its place.
Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:
Day 1 – Start a Conversation
Choose the 7C you want to focus on most (clear, concise, correct, complete, concrete, courteous, coherent).
Pay attention to one message you wrote today—email, Slack, or even a conversation. Ask yourself: Did it reflect the lesson you’re working on?
Highlight one thing you could have done better. Write a stronger version of that same message in one sentence.
AI Prompt: “You are a communication coach. I want to improve my [insert chosen 7C: clear, concise, complete, correct, concrete, coherent, or courteous] communication. Here is a message I sent recently: [paste message]. Help me rewrite it in a better way using that principle”.
Day 2 – Ask for a Gut-Check
Share a message you’re working on with a teammate or friend.
Ask: “Is this clear and easy to follow?” or “Does this feel too long?”
Listen without defending. Make one change based on their response.
AI Prompt: “You are a trusted peer. I want feedback on whether this message is clear and easy to understand. Here’s the message: [paste message]. What parts might confuse someone or feel too long or too vague?
Day 3 – Rewrite Something That Matters
Pick an important message you already sent this week (could be an update, an ask, or an intro).
Rewrite it using the 7C you’re focused on.
Post it in a note, email draft, or somewhere visible.
AI Prompt: “You are an expert in workplace writing. I want to rewrite this message so it’s more [insert chosen 7C]. Here’s the original: [paste original message]. Help me make it stronger, shorter, and easier to act on”.
Day 4 – Use It in the Moment
Today, use that lesson in a live setting—reply to an email, speak up in a meeting, or give feedback.
Keep it short. Keep it strong.
After, reflect: Did it land better? What felt easier?
AI Prompt: “You are a live communication coach. I need to write or say something right now, and I want it to follow the [insert chosen 7C] principle. Here’s the situation: [describe situation]. What’s the best way to say it clearly and effectively?”
The 7 Cs aren’t a checklist. They’re a skillset.
Confusion happens when we assume people understand.
Clarity is not about overexplaining—it's about not leaving room for doubt.
Every short, strong message saves someone time and stress.
Respect shows up in how you speak, not just in what you want to say.
Real communication starts when people stop guessing what you meant.
You don’t need more meetings—you need better words.
Until next time and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
“Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life" by Marshall B. Rosenberg (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch
“10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation" by Celeste Headlee (see it here)
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