Stop the show: Why busy doesn't mean better

I've been there. You probably have too. Sitting in yet another "all hands" meeting where the CEO reads slides we could've read ourselves, fielding softball questions that someone vetted three times over.

We call it communication, but it's really just theater.

You know what I mean. That weekly newsletter that goes straight to everyone's trash folder. The employee survey that collects dust after we publish the results. The feedback session where we nod along but never change anything.

We're performing engagement instead of creating it.

Here's what I learned after years of watching smart teams fall into this trap: we mistake motion for progress. Sending that newsletter feels productive. Hosting that town hall feels like leadership. But busy doesn't equal effective.

The performance feels safer, too. Real communication means real feedback, and real feedback can be messy. It means someone might actually challenge your brilliant new strategy. It means admitting you don't have all the answers.

So we stick to the script. We ask questions we want to hear answers to. We share updates that don't really update anyone. We check boxes instead of checking in.

How do you break the cycle? Start with one simple question: "What would happen if we stopped doing this?"

Try it with your next communication ritual. That standing meeting everyone dreads? That monthly report nobody references? Often, the answer is "nothing would change" — and that's your sign.

Real communication isn't about frequency or format. It's about connection and change.

Instead of broadcasting at people, try having conversations with them. Replace your survey with coffee chats. Swap your polished presentation for an honest discussion about what's not working.

Give people permission to tell you things you don't want to hear. Then do something about what they share.

Start small. Pick one communication habit that feels more like performance than purpose. Maybe it's that status update meeting where nothing ever changes. Maybe it's the feedback form that disappears into the void.

Replace it with something real. Something that invites actual input and commits to actual action. Something that treats your team like partners, not an audience.

Your people will notice the difference. More importantly, you'll start seeing results instead of just checking boxes.

The show must go on, but it doesn't have to be yours.