Free Diagnostic Tool

7 Communication Skill Gaps
Your Team Doesn't Know It Has

"We need communication training" is the most common request L&D receives. But communication is broad—it's like saying "we need to be healthier." This assessment identifies where specifically.

10 minutes 28 questions Instant results

Generic Training Fails

One-size-fits-all communication workshops don't address specific gaps. Resources are wasted on skills people already have.

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Targeted Training Works

Organisations that diagnose gaps first see 25% productivity increases and conflicts reduced by one-third.

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How This Works

Review each gap with your team in mind. Check the statements that apply. Your personalised results appear at the end.

"The question isn't whether your team has communication gaps—every team does. The question is: which specific gaps are silently eroding performance, trust, and retention?"

01

Clarity in Written Communication

Engineering • Government • Technical Services
0 of 4
Emails that are too long and bury the point
Reports that confuse rather than inform
Constant follow-up questions on written comms
Misunderstandings from unclear instructions
Self-Assessment
Team members' emails regularly exceed 3 paragraphs
You often need to clarify written instructions
Reports are returned for rewrites or clarification
Stakeholders complain about communication clarity

Quick wins to try

  1. Implement a "Bottom Line Up Front" (BLUF) email standard
  2. Create templates for common communication types
  3. Peer review system for important documents

58% of employees feel more connected through purposeful written digital communication—making clarity critical in the remote era.

02

Difficult Conversations Avoidance

New Managers • Emerging Leaders • Technical-to-Management
0 of 4
Performance issues left unaddressed for months
Team conflicts that simmer without resolution
Managers who only give positive feedback
Avoidance of career-limiting conversations
Self-Assessment
Performance issues are not addressed within 2 weeks of identification
Managers only give constructive feedback annually, not regularly
Conflicts persist rather than being surfaced and resolved
Team members don't know where they stand on performance

Quick wins to try

  1. Implement regular 1:1 frameworks
  2. Train managers on feedback models (SBI, COIN)
  3. Create psychological safety for honest conversations

Multi-generational workforces (5 generations) create increased need for adaptive conversation skills across every level of the organisation.

03

Presentation & Public Speaking Confidence

Engineering • Research • Academia
0 of 4
Team members decline speaking opportunities
Presentations are read from slides, not delivered
Q&A sections cause visible anxiety
Important ideas not shared due to fear
Self-Assessment
Team members don't volunteer for presentation opportunities
Presentations are not engaging or well-structured
Presenters struggle to handle questions with confidence
Subject matter experts cannot translate expertise to non-experts

Quick wins to try

  1. Create low-stakes practice opportunities (team meetings)
  2. Presentation templates with structure guides
  3. Video self-review practice
04

Stakeholder Influence & Persuasion

Middle Management • Project Leads • Technical Advisors
0 of 4
Good ideas get rejected or ignored
Proposals don't progress past initial review
Team members struggle to "sell" internally
Lack of executive presence in meetings
Self-Assessment
Proposals are typically not approved on first submission
Team members don't tailor messages to different audiences
Team members can't articulate the "why" behind recommendations
Ideas don't get traction across the organisation

Quick wins to try

  1. Audience analysis templates
  2. "What's in it for them?" framing practice
  3. Executive summary training
05

Cross-Generational Communication

All industries • Multi-generational teams
0 of 4
Generational friction ("millennials don't..." / "boomers always...")
Different communication preferences causing conflict
Mentoring relationships that struggle to connect
Retention issues with specific age groups
Self-Assessment
Different generations don't collaborate effectively on your team
There is a lack of respect for different communication preferences
Team members can't adapt their style to different colleagues
Mentoring relationships are not productive across age gaps

Quick wins to try

  1. Generational preference awareness sessions
  2. Reverse mentoring programs
  3. Flexible communication channel policies

5 generations are now in the workforce simultaneously. Gen Z will represent 25% of the workforce by 2030—making cross-generational skills essential.

06

Remote & Hybrid Communication

All industries • Distributed teams
0 of 4
Zoom fatigue and disengagement
Important messages lost in async communication
Distributed teams feeling disconnected
Meeting overload to compensate for proximity loss
Self-Assessment
Remote team members don't feel as connected as in-office staff
Virtual meetings are not productive or engaging
There is no clarity on when to use which communication channel
Complex discussions can't happen effectively via video

Quick wins to try

  1. Channel purpose guidelines (when to Slack vs email vs call)
  2. Virtual meeting best practices (cameras, engagement)
  3. Async communication protocols

Remote teams achieving productivity gains >25% have strong digital communication practices in place.

07

Executive Presence & Gravitas

Emerging Leaders • Technical Experts • High-Potential Employees
0 of 4
Team members not taken seriously by senior leaders
Ideas dismissed or attributed to others
Lack of confidence in high-stakes situations
Difficulty commanding attention in meetings
Self-Assessment
Team members are not comfortable speaking up with executives
They don't project confidence in high-stakes situations
Contributions are not recognised or attributed correctly
They can't hold their own in challenging conversations

Quick wins to try

  1. Executive exposure opportunities (shadow meetings)
  2. Power posture and confidence coaching
  3. Contribution visibility training

Your Communication Gap Profile

Based on your self-assessment responses

Priority Matrix

Where to focus your training investment

Address Immediately
Complete the assessment above
Plan for Next Cycle
Monitor & Review
Low Priority
Lower Severity Higher Severity

Your Top Priority Gaps

Focus here first for maximum impact

Complete the self-assessment above to see your personalised priority gaps.

Now you know which gaps to solve

The next step is finding training that addresses these specific gaps—not generic communication workshops that waste time on skills your team already has.

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