Executive Communication Playbook
Communicate like a leader
Who This Is For
Directors, VPs, executives, senior ICs
Growth-stage and beyond
Your impact depends on influencing people you don't directly manage
At senior levels, communication IS the work. You're not evaluated on your ideas—you're evaluated on your ability to get others to execute on ideas. Clear thinking leads to clear writing. If you can't write it clearly, you don't understand it.
1. Write Clearly
Written communication is the foundation. Master the memo, the email, the Slack message.
Written Communication
Scale your impact by identifying recurring verbal explanations and codifying them into asynchronous...
View Skill → →Writing PRDs
Traditional written requirements are being replaced by functional prototypes and prompt sets as the...
View Skill → →Writing Specs & Designs
Low-fidelity drawing on whiteboards is faster and more collaborative for aligning teams than high-fi...
View Skill → →2. Present Effectively
High-stakes presentations require preparation and clarity.
Giving Presentations
Slide titles should be descriptive conclusions, not generic category labels.
View Skill → →Stakeholder Alignment
Growth leaders must bridge the gap between rapid experimentation and product craftsmanship to gain o...
View Skill → →Brand Storytelling
Strategic storytelling focuses on leading a movement rather than just solving a functional problem.
View Skill → →3. Align Stakeholders
Get people on the same page before the big meeting.
Stakeholder Alignment
Growth leaders must bridge the gap between rapid experimentation and product craftsmanship to gain o...
View Skill → →Managing Up
Organizational dysfunction often stems from the simple power asymmetry where subordinates feel they...
View Skill → →Cross-functional Collaboration
In content-heavy organizations, cross-functional teams should include subject matter experts (like e...
View Skill → →4. Run Great Meetings
Your meetings should be the ones people want to attend.
Running Effective Meetings
Ending meetings with standardized questions ensures alignment and prevents the need for 're-meetings...
View Skill → →Running Offsites
Remote-first companies should use short, high-intensity in-person 'bursts' to handle creative work t...
View Skill → →Running Decision Processes
Use a structured 'Curiosity Loop' to gather contextual advice from a curated group to fight the bias...
View Skill → →Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Burying the lead (put the ask first)
- Presenting without pre-aligning stakeholders
- Using jargon that excludes people
- Sending long emails when a short one would do
- Running meetings without clear outcomes