A North Carolina-based communications expert has released a book that tackles one of corporate America’s most expensive problems: the inability of employees to speak up effectively at work.
Effective communication has yielded significant benefits in the past year, with knowledge workers experiencing improvements in meeting project deadlines (38%, up by 5%), receiving raises or promotions (24%, up by 4%), and reducing work stress (48%, up by 8%), according to recent workplace studies. Yet miscommunication costs US businesses $1.2 trillion annually, highlighting a persistent gap between communication’s potential benefits and current workplace reality.
Molly Tschang, founder of Abella Consulting and creator of the Say It Skillfully methodology and bestselling book by the same name, asserts that employees who speak up are statistically more likely to receive promotions and raises. Her research indicates that 95% of those who actively communicate across diverse workplace topics report feeling more excited about their jobs.
The communication expert, who has guided executives through over 80 mergers and acquisitions at companies including Cisco Systems and U.S. Filter, recently co-authored a book with renowned leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith. The publication introduces what Tschang calls the “Me-You-We” framework, designed to help professionals navigate challenging workplace conversations while building what she terms “shared reality.”
Tschang’s approach centers on the premise that effective workplace communication requires understanding and respecting multiple perspectives without necessarily agreeing with everyone. Teams who communicate effectively in the workplace may see as much as a 25% increase in their productivity, according to industry data, while employees who feel their voice matters are 4.6 times more motivated to produce quality work. As Tschang puts it, “Most personal development and communication books preach playing the game so you win. Say It Skillfully teaches you how to change the game so performance improves and everyone wins.”
The timing appears critical. 86% of employees and executives cite ineffective communication as the leading cause of workplace failures, while only 5.9% of companies notify their workforce of their goals on a daily basis. These statistics reveal what communication experts describe as a fundamental disconnect between leadership intentions and employee engagement.
Through her professional development programs, Tschang works with corporate teams to create what she describes as environments where people can “speak without fear and feel heard.” Her methodology emphasizes that creating shared understanding doesn’t require universal agreement but rather acknowledgment and respect for different viewpoints.
The Say It Skillfully framework has attracted attention from business leaders across industries. The approach focuses on practical scenarios through video demonstrations and podcast discussions and courses, showing professionals how to handle delicate conversations while remaining authentic to themselves.
Recent workplace communication studies support the need for such interventions. Research from Microsoft found that 68% of employees lack uninterrupted focus time during the workday, while workers spend significant portions of their time in meetings, emails, and chat communications that may not be optimally structured.
Tschang’s work suggests that the solution lies not in reducing communication but in improving its quality and effectiveness. Her communication resources and training aim to help individuals at all organizational levels develop the skills to express themselves clearly while fostering collaborative rather than competitive workplace dynamics.
The book’s release comes as organizations continue adapting to hybrid work environments where effective communication has become even more critical for maintaining team cohesion and productivity. Industry experts note that companies investing in communication training and technology often see measurable improvements in employee retention and overall performance.
For professionals seeking to enhance their workplace influence, Tschang’s research indicates that the ability to skillfully express ideas and concerns may be among the most valuable career development investments, particularly in an era where 96% of business leaders agree that effective communication is essential for delivering expected business results.
