Confidence vs. Clarity: Is this Invisible Barrier Holding You Back?

“I told them exactly what needed to happen, but somehow, it didn’t get done.”

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking “I was perfectly clear,” only to discover later that your team didn’t follow through the way you expected, you’re not alone. In fact, it happens to some of the most experienced, articulate, and confident leaders I work with.

The problem isn’t always what you said.

It’s that you assumed your audience would know what you meant. 

The Clarity Illusion: When Confidence Outpaces Communication

Leadership requires being confident. But here’s the catch: when you’re used to leading with confidence, it’s easy to assume that your message is just as clear to others as it is to you.

This false sense of being clear isn’t arrogance. It’s a lack of self-awareness. You can’t identify your own blind spots. And if no one enlightens you, you’ll keep believing your message is clear... even when it’s not.

This false sense of being clear is a cognitive trap similar to what psychologists refer to as the Dunning-Kruger effect, which is the tendency to overestimate one’s skills in areas where we lack expertise.

In this case, it plays out like this: “I speak confidently, therefore I must be clear.”

But clarity isn’t about how confident you feel.

It’s about how accurately others receive and act on your message.

5 Signs You Might Not Be as Clear as You Think

Even high-performing leaders miss the subtle signs that their communication isn’t connecting:

• The questions you receive are asking for clarification or additional explanation about next steps.

• You are often asked to repeat yourself, which results in feelings of frustration.

• Tasks are not done in the way you intended (and might have to be re-done).

• People agree with you in meetings, but there’s no follow-through.

• Team morale seems low, despite you feeling that you are giving clear direction.

Each of these is a signal that something in your words or delivery is leaving room for misinterpretation.

Successful Communication Isn’t a Given. It’s a Skill

Many professionals have never been taught how to hone their communication.

Over time, they adopt shorthand habits, assume shared understanding, and forget that clarity is an outcome, not an input.

Here’s are some things that can get in the way of clear communication:

• Lack of feedback: Most people won’t tell you when they’re confused. They’ll just act like they’re keeping up.
  
  

• Text and email writing habits: The brevity we use online can create vagueness when speaking in real time.
  
  

• Assuming others think like you or know what you know: What’s “obvious” to you may be brand new to someone else.
  
  

• Lack of practice: You may not be taking the time to run through your message to make sure it’s coming through the way you want it to.
  

The result? You may sound decisive, but you’re not always understood.
And over time, that gap can erode trust and team efficiency.

What Clear Communicators Do Differently

Leaders who are great communicators:

• Use specifics over generalities (e.g., “Jasmine will follow up by Friday” instead of “Let’s circle back soon.”)
  
  

• Align tone with intention and watch for facial expressions, posture, and energy.
  
  

• Check for shared understanding before moving on to the next point.
  
  

• Know when to pause, reframe, or invite questions.
  

They make the effort and take time to make sure their message will make as much sense to their audience as it does to them.

And that makes a huge difference in the outcome.

Why This Matters: Clarity Builds Respect

The impact of clear, intentional communication isn’t just practical. It’s also perceptual.

When you take time to ensure your message lands, people see you as more grounded, thoughtful, and trustworthy. This builds genuine respect and fosters collaboration. It signals that you value input, not just direction, creating an environment where ideas are heard and shared.

The Takeaway: Confidence Isn’t the only Goal. Clarity Counts too.

To be an effective leader, you don’t need to communicate more. You need to communicate better.

So the next time you leave a meeting thinking, “I nailed it,” pause and ask:

• Did my team understand what I meant? Or were they just nodding along?
  
  

• Was my message clear? Or did I throw out a vague direction?
  
  

• Who can I ask to find out how my message landed?
  

Real leadership isn’t just about projecting confidence. It’s about inviting feedback to ensure your message truly resonates.

✅ Ready to find out how clear of a communicator you are?

Book a discovery call HERE or download my 5-Step Persuasive Message Framework to see where small shifts can create big results.