What do the best communicators do better than good ones?

7.  They are transparent.

There’s a link between how open a communicator is with you and how much you trust him. If a communicator is closed or guarded, you might assume that person is hiding something.

With the exception of protected, private information, great communicators do not attempt to hold back; rather, they disclose as much information as they are empowered to share. This is especially important during times of change and insecurity, or when delivering bad news. Great communicators share at the level necessary for the listener or reader to act.

Want your listener or reader to trust you?

Don’t play the “I-have-a-secret” game with information that affects them.