Further Resources
The Uncomfortable Truth About Natural Communicators
Related Articles:
Here's something that'll ruffle feathers: natural communicators are actually terrible at communication training.
I've been running workplace development programs across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane for the better part of two decades, and this realisation hit me like a freight train about three years ago. The people who seem to effortlessly connect with others? They're often the worst instructors when it comes to teaching communication skills.
Think about it. When you're naturally gifted at something, you don't consciously process the steps. It's like asking a professional swimmer to explain how they breathe underwater – they just do it. Natural communicators have an intuitive sense of timing, body language, and emotional intelligence that they've never had to deconstruct or analyse.
The Michael Jordan Problem
Remember Michael Jordan's stint as a basketball coach? Disaster. Pure disaster. The greatest player of all time couldn't translate his instinctive genius into teachable methods. Same thing happens in corporate Australia every single day.
I've watched charismatic CEOs deliver inspiring presentations, then completely fail when asked to mentor their teams on public speaking. They'll say things like "just be yourself" or "speak from the heart" – which is about as useful as telling someone to "just be tall" if they want to play basketball.
The most effective communication trainers I know? They're the ones who struggled initially. Who had to learn every technique, practice every gesture, and consciously develop their skills through trial and error. These people understand the mechanics because they've had to build them from scratch.
Where Training Programs Get It Wrong
Most organisations make the mistake of assuming their best communicators will automatically become their best communication trainers. Wrong. Dead wrong.
I remember working with a tech company in Sydney where they'd promoted their most charismatic sales manager to head up their communication training program. Six months later, employee feedback was brutal. The training sessions were described as "fluffy," "unhelpful," and "watch someone show off for an hour."
The real kicker? When they brought in someone who'd openly struggled with social anxiety earlier in their career, the program transformed. This trainer could break down exactly why certain phrases work, how to manage nervous energy, and what to do when your mind goes blank mid-presentation.
Natural communicators often can't explain their process because it's subconscious. They read micro-expressions without thinking, adjust their tone instinctively, and navigate social dynamics through pure intuition.
The Australian Context Makes It Worse
Our cultural tendency to downplay expertise doesn't help. Natural communicators in Australia often succeed despite appearing effortless and casual. "She just has that gift," we say, as if effective communication is some mystical talent rather than a learnable skill set.
This creates a dangerous myth that communication skills are either something you're born with or you're not. Bollocks. Absolute bollocks.
I've seen accounts managers who could barely string together a coherent email become compelling presenters within twelve months. The difference? They worked with trainers who understood the step-by-step process because they'd walked that path themselves.
What Actually Works
The best communication training comes from people who've consciously developed their skills. They can explain why pausing for three seconds after a question creates impact. They know how to position your shoulders to appear more confident. They understand the specific word choices that build trust versus those that create distance.
Natural communicators will tell you to "just connect with your audience." Trained communicators will teach you to make eye contact with individuals for 3-5 seconds, use the person's name twice during a conversation, and mirror their speaking pace.
See the difference?
The Overconfidence Trap
Here's another uncomfortable truth: natural communicators often overestimate their teaching abilities. They assume because communication feels easy to them, explaining it should be equally straightforward.
I've sat through countless training sessions where naturally gifted presenters would demonstrate a technique, get frustrated when participants couldn't immediately replicate it, then blame the audience for "not getting it."
The most brutal example was a workshop in Perth where a marketing director – genuinely brilliant at stakeholder management – spent forty minutes telling a room full of engineers to "just be more personable." When asked for specific strategies, he literally said, "You know, just smile more and ask about their weekend."
The Technical Translation Gap
Natural communicators struggle with what I call the "technical translation gap." They can't break down their intuitive processes into learnable components.
Take negotiation skills. A natural negotiator might instinctively know when to push harder or when to back off. But ask them to teach this, and you'll get vague advice about "reading the room" or "trusting your gut."
Meanwhile, someone who's studied negotiation techniques can explain specific verbal cues that indicate flexibility, how to use strategic silence, and the psychology behind reciprocity principles.
The Solution Isn't What You Think
I'm not suggesting natural communicators are useless in training environments. They're actually brilliant – when used correctly.
The sweet spot is pairing natural communicators with structured trainers. The natural provides authentic demonstrations and inspiration. The trained professional handles the technical breakdown and skill development.
Some of my most successful programs involve exactly this combination. The charismatic leader opens the session, shares stories, and demonstrates techniques. Then the methodical trainer takes over to explain the how and why.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Remote work has made communication skills more crucial and more teachable. When you strip away the intuitive elements of in-person interaction, you're left with the technical components that can actually be learned.
Video calls have democratised communication training in a weird way. Everyone's working with the same constraints – limited body language, screen fatigue, audio delays. This levels the playing field between natural and trained communicators.
The Bottom Line
Stop assuming your best communicators will become your best communication trainers. It's like expecting your fastest runner to become your best running coach without any additional training.
If you want to improve communication across your organisation, invest in trainers who understand the mechanics, not just people who make it look easy.
The most dangerous phrase in professional development is "just be natural." Natural is different for everyone. Learnable techniques work for everyone.
And that's the uncomfortable truth most natural communicators don't want to admit.