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The ACE Model: How Authenticity, Clarity, and Energy Transform Leaders
Founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking and bestselling author Allison Shapira shares how communication, not just expertise, sets great leaders apart in high-stakes moments.
As you move into more senior leadership roles, you spend more time communicating the messages of your organization, both to your teams and to external stakeholders.
How confident are you in the way you — or your senior leaders — communicate?
Words matter, especially in times of uncertainty. Employees pick up on subtle cues that can cause them to feel either anxious or reassured.
So, what are you communicating?
In my work helping leaders prepare for senior-level roles, I see what happens when leaders are experts in their field, but lack the communication skills to truly lead others.
My ACE Model of Leadership Communication, developed through more than two decades of work with global executives, identifies three core components that determine a leader’s effectiveness when they communicate.
As you prepare to communicate with your team, whether it’s about adopting new AI systems or maintaining focus through uncertain geopolitical conditions, think about how you can incorporate these three components:
- Authenticity comes from communicating in a way that aligns with your core values rather than hiding behind an artificial “leadership persona.” Senior executives who can tap into their authentic voice will more effectively build trust, especially in times of uncertainty.
- Clarity calls for turning subject-matter expertise into clear, actionable insights. Honing this skill will improve both decision-making and execution, especially when presenting to the board or external stakeholders.
- Energy, often overlooked in leadership development, shows up in the physical and emotional presence leaders display in their interactions. A leader’s energy will affect the energy of their team in a phenomenon called the Leader Amplification Effect, coined by social psychologist and Columbia Business School professor Adam Galinsky.
By developing these competencies, you will start to see measurable improvements in team retention, employee engagement, and overall performance.
When you communicate with authenticity, clarity, and energy, you won’t just deliver a message; you will truly lead with your voice.
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