“Cop-Out Communication: How Leaders Are Failing and How to Fix It”

Step away from the keyboard and step back into real leadership.

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s never been easier to avoid real conversations.
A quick text. A Teams message. A Slack note.
Leaders are falling into the trap — and it’s costing them dearly.

Here’s the truth:
If you’re leading through quick messages and emojis, you’re not truly leading.
You’re avoiding.
You’re choosing the easy out instead of stepping up.

I call it “cop-out communication.”

It’s the habit of tossing out texts or Teams messages instead of having the hard, honest, human conversations that real leadership demands.

• Maybe someone missed a deadline and you don’t want to “make a big deal” about it.
• Maybe you’re worried about a team member’s mental health but it feels easier to just check in lightly via chat.
• Maybe you’ve gone too long without a real conversation — and typing “Hope you’re doing well!” feels safe.

None of these situations call for a text.
They call for courage.

Leadership isn’t about efficiency.
It’s about connection.

If you can’t pull someone aside (in-person or on video) to have an honest, emotion-filled conversation — whether it’s tough love, concern, or just checking in — then you’re leading from a distance, and your team feels it.

Every time we default to a chat bubble instead of a real conversation, we lose:

• Trust
• Empathy
• Accountability
• Authentic relationships

We lose the very fabric of leadership itself.

“You can’t build trust one emoji at a time.”

Leadership happens in the hard, human moments — not in the safe space behind a keyboard.

🏆 The Leadership Challenge:

I’m challenging you — and every leader reading this — to take a bold step:

For one week, no texting, Slack, or Teams for real conversations.
Not for giving feedback.
Not for expressing concern.
Not even for checking in.

If it matters, make it face-to-face, voice-to-voice, or camera-to-camera.

Can you do it?
Can you step up to the plate and lead the way leadership was meant to be?

I guarantee you’ll be amazed at how your relationships deepen — and how much more powerful your leadership becomes.

Our people deserve more than our keystrokes.
They deserve our voices, our attention, our presence.
And frankly, so do we.

Let’s stop the cop-out communication.
Let’s lead like it actually matters.