As a founder, CEO, or leader, you wear a lot of hats. Your vision and drive keep the business moving forward, but there’s a reason you hire experts for key roles: no one can be an expert in everything.
Yet when it comes to certain areas—like communications—it’s not uncommon for leaders to push back, second-guess, or ignore the advice they’re paying professionals to provide. This isn’t unique to comms; it can happen with marketing, sales, or even legal and financial matters.
So, let’s dig into why listening to your communications team is essential, how it parallels trusting other experts, and what happens when you lean into their expertise.
You Hired Them For A Reason
Think about why you brought on a comms expert or team in the first place. You likely recognized that clear, strategic communication is vital to your business. Whether it’s building your brand, handling a crisis, or rallying your employees, effective communication shapes how your business is perceived internally and externally.
Your comms team brings deep expertise—crafting messaging, navigating media relationships, understanding audience dynamics, and anticipating how your words and actions will land. When you don’t listen to them, you’re not just ignoring their advice; you’re undermining the very reason you brought them on board.
Trusting The Experts
Imagine hiring a lawyer for a legal matter. Would you argue with them about the nuances of the law (unless you are a lawyer yourself)? Or going to a doctor for a diagnosis and insisting you know better because you read something online? Probably not.
Why? Because these professionals have training and experience that you don’t. It’s the same with communications professionals.
While there’s always room for collaboration and second opinions, there’s little point in hiring an expert if you’re going to ignore their advice.
Why This Matters for Comms
Communications often seem deceptively simple—after all, everyone knows how to send an email or write a social media post. But strategic communication is far more complex. It involves:
These are skills honed through years of experience. When your comms team advises you, it’s based on a mix of expertise, data, and an understanding of how your business operates. Ignoring their guidance risks missteps that can damage your brand, alienate your audience, or create unnecessary challenges.
When Second Opinions Make Sense
Let’s be clear: listening to your comms team doesn’t mean blind agreement. There’s always a time and place for collaboration, pushback, and second opinions, such as:
But the key here is trust. Assume your team’s advice is grounded in expertise, and approach any disagreements as a conversation—not a rejection of their skills.
Focus on What You Do Best
As a leader, your focus should be on the big picture: the vision, strategy, and operations that drive your business forward. Trying to micromanage communications—or any other specialized function—distracts you from your strengths and prevents your team from doing their best work.When you let your comms professionals guide you on comms matters, you create space for them to:
This same principle applies across your business. Trust your marketing team to understand audience trends. Let your sales team refine the pitch. Rely on your financial advisors for budget decisions. Your job is to lead, not do it all.
The Bottom Line
Hiring experts is an investment in your business—but that investment only pays off if you actually listen to their advice. Trust your comms team to guide you, challenge you, and help you navigate the complexities of communication. Because at the end of the day, your success is their success—and their expertise is what will help you get there.
