Communication Is Leadership — How Transparency and Connection Build Great Companies

“A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.”
— Herb Kelleher, Co-Founder, Southwest Airlines

We often talk about strategy, vision, and execution as the pillars of leadership.
But the real foundation — the one that holds everything together — is communication.

As Kip Tindell, founder of The Container Store and author of Uncontainable, puts it:

“Nothing gets rid of bad actions faster than transparency.”

That’s leadership in its simplest form — the courage to communicate openly, consistently, and with care.

How Strong Is Communication in Your Business?

Here’s a question worth asking your leadership team:

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how strong is communication in our company?

Then ask your employees the same question.

If their answers differ from yours, that gap isn’t a perception issue — it’s a leadership issue.

Tindell reminds us:

“We’re all unhappy when we feel excluded. Communication is compassion.”

When people don’t know what’s happening — or worse, feel left out — trust erodes.
And once trust is gone, alignment and execution quickly follow.

Transparency Starts at the Top

Real transparency isn’t a company value — it’s a leadership behavior.

At The Container Store, Tindell built a culture around sharing information freely — from financial results to business challenges — because he believed that people make better decisions when they know the truth.

As he said, “When you have an aspiring goal, the universe conspires to assist you.”

That belief became the cultural core of his company — and it paid off.

One Great Person Equals Three Average

One of The Container Store’s most famous values is simple but profound:

“One great person equals three average ones.”

It’s not just about hiring talent — it’s about creating an environment where talented people want to show up.

As Tindell explains, people love coming to work because they’re surrounded by other great people.
Excellence attracts excellence.

If you want a team that thrives, hire people who care deeply, communicate clearly, and lift others higher.

Sell Solutions, Not Items

Another of Tindell’s guiding philosophies — the Man in the Desert approach — captures what communication looks like in action.

If a thirsty man stumbled into your oasis, you wouldn’t just hand him a glass of water.
You’d ask: “Are you okay? Do you need food? Do you need to call someone?”

At The Container Store, that translated to selling solutions, not products.

If a customer came in asking for a tie rack, employees didn’t just show one. They asked about the customer’s closet, space, and goals — uncovering what the person really needed.

That’s communication with empathy — and it’s as relevant in leadership as it is in sales.

Communication Is Leadership

Tindell’s story is a reminder that communication isn’t a skill set — it’s a mindset.

It’s about making people feel included, informed, and inspired.
It’s about sharing information before it’s perfect, and listening before you speak.
It’s about caring enough to tell the truth — even when it’s uncomfortable.

In the end, communication is culture — and culture is leadership.

Want help improving communication rhythms across your leadership team?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.