Why Effective Communication Without Justification is Key To Leadership Success

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone expresses a direct criticism, a comment, or a remark about you, and that person needs to name-drop to support their criticism, comment or remark?

Typically, what is your reaction?

When the named-dropping occurs, does it have you shake your head, blink, or slip in a thought or question, like, “What was that?”

In a conversation, if the speaker says, ‘My partner is useless,’ it’s critical to address the language being used.

The word useless should never be part of our vocabulary. It carries a strong negative connotation and impacts both the speaker and the person the comment is directed at in a harmful way. This is a whole other conversation, though, which we’re not getting into today.

In continuing, if the speaker thinks this statement alone is not enough, then the speaker might go on to say:

“I’m not the only one who thinks that. ALL his friends and coworkers think that too.”

If mentioning friends and coworkers is not enough, other people might be brought into the conversation to support the speaker’s point of view.

The speaker continues, “Oh, even his assistants, his boss, and… I think… his cousins, too, have said the same thing one time at an event. And they all agree with me that he is useless.”

Sound familiar? Can you relate?

Whenever I hear name-dropping used this way, it internally tickles me to the point where I hope I don’t laugh out loud. In my head, I’m thinking, “Whoa, that’s quite a list of people!”

Really? Is it necessary?

If you’ve been in a similar situation to the one described and it jolted you somewhat, it’s because the speaker’s credibility has been called into question.

Name-dropping to support someone’s opinion happens more often than we realize in daily conversations. Ultimately, it comes down to the speaker’s responsibility, which, to be fair, requires training and development.

The speaker may not even realize that name-dropping to support their opinion can contribute to ineffective rather than effective communication. It is especially true for individuals in positions of authority who feel the need to name-drop.

This ineffective communication causes those down the chain to question the ability of the individual in authority to develop others—simply because they cannot be trusted to stand by their word.

Mastering effective communication comes down to your relationship with your word. If you lack the confidence to express your thoughts without relying on others to back you up—especially when those individuals aren’t physically present in the conversation—it’s better to refrain from saying them altogether. Bringing someone else into your conversation indicates a lack of confidence and invites others to question your credibility, accountability, and integrity—all tied to the power of your word.

Communication without justification builds trust, respects everyone’s time, and creates clarity. It encourages others to focus on your message instead of questioning your reasoning, leading to more productive conversations.

This week, notice if, in your speaking, there’s a need to justify your point of view by bringing in another person who’s not present in your conversations. Then, ask yourself if it’s necessary.