Discover 5 science-backed ways to improve leadership communication, team connection, and productivity at work. Learn how positive communication boosts work wellbeing.
How Leaders Speak: 5 Ways to Build Trust and Boost Performance
Inspired by Dr. Julien Mirivel
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: the most effective leaders don’t just get things done—they build people up whilst doing it.
I used to think that leadership was about strategy, speed, and execution. And it is. But it’s also about how we show up, especially in the everyday moments. A look. A greeting. A question. A compliment. A pause.
That’s why I was so excited to sit down with Dr. Julien Mirivel, professor of applied communication and one of the founding scholars in the field of Positive Communication. Julien has spent over two decades studying how our words shape trust, performance, and team wellbeing.
In his words:
“Communication is not just a tool for sharing information—it’s a way of relating. Every interaction is a chance to connect or disconnect.” – Julien Mirivel
In this post, I want to share five of Julien’s core communication behaviors—ones I’ve practiced myself—and how they can boost both productivity at work and work wellbeing. These are essential tools for anyone serious about leadership training for managers.
Let’s dive in.
1. Greet to Create Connection
Small moment, big meaning
Greeting is more than a “Hey.” It’s how we tell someone, “I see you.”
Julien puts it beautifully:
“Greeting is a move toward people. When we do it with intention, we set the tone for the relationship.” – Julien Mirivel
🛠️ Intervention Tips:
- At the start of every meeting, take 2 minutes for a real check-in. Try: “What’s one word for how you’re feeling today?”
- Greet in a way that fits the person—smile, eye contact, even a short text before a call: “Looking forward to talking!”
🧠 Why it matters: Thoughtful greetings lower stress and create micro-moments of belonging. Over time, this builds trust and safety across teams.
2. Ask with Curiosity
Questions open minds—and doors
As a former McKinsey Partner, I used to rush through meetings, assuming I knew what others meant. That was a miss.
Julien reminded me:
“Closed questions shut down dialogue. Open-ended ones invite people in. They say, ‘Your voice matters.’” – Julien Mirivel
🛠️ Intervention Tips:
- Shift from: “Did you finish the project?” to → “What’s the biggest insight from the project so far?”
- Use these prompts in 1:1s:
- “What’s something you’re excited about right now?”
- “What’s one challenge you’re facing I might not see?”
🧠 Why it matters: Open questions increase engagement and show psychological safety—two drivers of team creativity and productivity at work.
3. Compliment to Reinforce Identity
Don’t just notice—name it
We often think good work speaks for itself. It doesn’t. People need to hear that they’re seen and appreciated.
“People don’t have access to your thoughts,” Julien said. “They only know what you value through what you say.”
🛠️ Intervention Tips:
- Use this structure:
What they did + What it shows about them + Why it matters
e.g., “That client summary was clear and confident. It shows your ownership—and it helped us win trust.” - Compliment effort, not just outcome. Especially for new or struggling team members.
🧠 Why it matters: Compliments done well boost confidence, motivation, and resilience. They are powerful tools for work wellbeing and retention.
4. Disclose to Deepen Trust
Authenticity invites authenticity
Vulnerability is often viewed as weakness in the workplace. But it’s actually critical to how we build strong teams.
“Disclosing—when done with care—builds the bridge that trust walks on,” Julien spoke about.
I’ve shared my own struggles with stress and anxiety, uncertainty, and imposter syndrome with teams. Every time, it opened a door for someone else to say, “Me too.”
🛠️ Intervention Tips:
- Share a personal “why” behind a goal: “This matters to me because…”
- Own a miss: “Here’s something I learned from getting it wrong.”
🧠 Why it matters: Disclosing makes you relatable. It also creates safety for others to speak up, which strengthens team problem-solving and cohesion.
5. Encourage Through Challenge
Positive doesn’t mean passive
Some think positive communication means sugarcoating. But the truth is, it includes speaking truth to power, giving feedback, and challenging people to grow—with care.
“Encouragement is about supporting people as they stretch,” Julien said. “It’s saying, ‘I believe in you—even when things are hard.’”
🛠️ Intervention Tips:
- When giving feedback, start with belief: “I know you’re capable of this. Here’s where I see an opportunity.”
- Catch someone struggling? Instead of fixing it for them, try: “What support would help you move forward?”
🧠 Why it matters: Encouragement builds courage. It’s one of the strongest buffers against disengagement and burnout—and a key ingredient in leadership training for managers.
Final Reflection: Lead with Words That Lift
These five behaviors—greet, ask, compliment, disclose, and encourage—are the foundation of what Julien calls “positive communication excellence.” They may sound simple, but they’re powerful. Especially when done consistently.
I’ve seen it firsthand. Teams that practice these skills build more trust. They get more done. They lift each other up. And they feel better doing it.
So if you’re looking to increase productivity at work or build stronger leadership training for managers, don’t start with tools—start with tone. Start with how you speak.
Because the best leaders don’t just get results.
They create environments where people want to do their best—together.
5 Reflection Questions (You Can Use in Your Next Team Meeting):
- How do we greet one another—really?
- What kinds of questions do we ask?
- When was the last time someone felt truly seen?
- Are we sharing enough of our own stories?
- Do our words build people up, especially in hard times?
Let’s lead with more intention—and less autopilot. The results will speak for themselves.
Learn more about Julien at his Linkedin.
Listen to the podcast with Ashish and Julien below.
Access and subscribe to all of the episodes of the Happiness Squad Podcast here.
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