Tone and Leadership — A leader's communication style sets what's important by aligning objectives, creates organizational culture, and determines whether people surface difficult truths in time to act.

As I argue in The Authentic Leader, authenticity is not mood or mystique -- it's observable behavior: human language, owned responsibility, and promises kept. When combined, ethics and tone go a long way in deciding how your company allocates power and earns (or erodes) consent.

Your people are listening and cataloging how you speak and communicate in Town Halls, one-on-one meetings, to others, and in media outlets. Thus, tone...like power...is a topic that leader's should constantly be thinking about across settings.