How Communication Agility Helps Leaders Build Strategic Presence

Project and transformation leaders face high-stakes conversations every day. 
 
They report up, align across, and guide teams—all while trying to move strategy forward inside complex, fast-changing environments. 
 
The pressure isn’t just to deliver. It’s to be clear. To be heard. To be taken seriously. 
 
With shifting priorities, competing agendas, and layered decision-making, even highly capable leaders can find themselves stuck. Not because they lack direction, but because something important gets lost between intent and IMPACT. 
 
Whether you lead delivery, support transformation, or advise senior leaders, your ability to guide the right conversations often determines how much influence you have—and how much business value your work creates. 
 
In this episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, I’m joined by Dori Gilbert, an executive coach and transformation leader, to explore the leadership skillset behind communication agility. She shares how to use it to build strategic presence, earn trust, and close the gap between message and execution. 
 

Why Communication Agility Sets You Apart 

Communication agility is the leadership skillset that helps you show up with clarity, courage, and context when the stakes are high. 
 
Leaders who guide high-IMPACT conversations know how to deliver the right message, at the right moment, in the right way. That’s how influence is built—not just through results, but through how those results are communicated. 
 
In fast-moving, high-pressure environments, strong execution alone isn’t enough. When your message misses the mark, trust breaks down and momentum stalls—even when the work is solid. 
 
We’ve seen capable leaders get overlooked because they stayed quiet in critical meetings, held back in moments of conflict, or failed to tie their message to what stakeholders actually care about. 
 
Here’s why it matters. 
 
Executives respond to clarity under pressure. 
A strong message delivered with precision builds trust and moves decisions forward. 
 
Courageous conversations shift perception. 
Real change starts when someone is willing to address what others avoid. 
 
Context builds credibility. 
Messages carry weight when they connect to business realities, not just project updates. 
 
Presence changes outcomes. 
How you show up in the room shapes how your message is received—and how your leadership is perceived.

Communication Agility Is Built in Real Moments 

Dori doesn’t hand over a framework. She points to the moments where leadership breaks down or breaks through, depending on how you communicate when it counts. 
 
These aren’t abstract principles. They’re the behaviors that shape how your message lands and how your leadership is received. 
 
When the room gets quiet, say the thing no one wants to say. 
There’s a moment in every meeting when the hard truth surfaces, and no one wants to be the one to name it. Leaders often pull back to stay safe, but playing it safe weakens trust. Voicing what others avoid, with calm and grounded clarity, builds credibility and moves decisions forward. 
 
When the stakes are high, prepare with intention. 
Agile communication isn’t reactive. It’s deliberate. Before the high-pressure conversation, ask yourself what needs to be said, what your audience cares about, and how you’ll meet them where they are. The more clearly you define your message, the more confidently it lands. 
 
When conflict shows up, lead through it instead of around it. 
Too often, leaders tiptoe around tension and hope it will resolve itself. But avoidance only delays progress and erodes trust. Stepping into discomfort with curiosity and composure can change the dynamic. That’s when stuck conversations begin to move. 
 
When everyone’s talking, listen for what isn’t being said. 
The best communicators are also the most observant. They notice the silence, the hesitation, the shift in body language. They pick up on what others are holding back and adjust their message accordingly. That awareness is what turns communication into influence. 
 
When the meeting ends, follow up on what landed and what didn’t. 
One conversation is rarely enough. Communication agility means circling back, clarifying anything that was missed, and asking what still needs to be said. Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about staying engaged and making your message count over time. 
 
This is the skillset behind presence, trust, and strategy that actually moves. You don’t need a louder voice. You just need to know how to use it. 
 

Want Your Message to Land? Design for Strategic Presence. 

This episode is a call to stop hoping people will read between the lines. 
 
If your leadership is grounded in strong delivery but your message still gets missed, the issue isn’t effort. It’s clarity. Strategic presence doesn’t come from saying more—it comes from showing up with the right message, at the right time, in the right way. 
 
Communication agility isn’t just a personal skill. It’s a leadership system. It helps you guide high-stakes conversations, influence decisions, and earn trust when the moment counts most. 
 
👉 Click play to learn how to build the communication habits that help you lead with confidence—and finally get the traction your strategy deserves. 

Connect with Dori

Follow her on LinkedIn 
Check out her website 
Visit KiteAgility.com 
Download Your Internal Conflict Messaging System Guide

P.S. If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of noise, the IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the tools, coaching, and support to communicate with confidence and influence at the highest level. Click here to learn more 🚀 

P.P.S. On September 10, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The IMPACT Engine! Whether you already own the book or have been waiting to grab a copy, now’s your chance. Not on the newsletter yet? Join today so you don’t miss the exclusive September 9 sneak peek at special offers and giveaways—my way of saying thanks for an incredibly IMPACTful year!