Communication That Drives Momentum
At Raise The Bar, we’ve found that productivity rarely stalls because of a lack of effort. It stalls because of a lack of clarity, context and check-ins that allow for questions.
Whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, high performance isn't about more communication—it’s about clearer systems. Here are some that have helped us.
The Hidden Cost of the "Quick Ping"
Research shows that after a single interruption, it can take 20+ minutes to fully regain deep focus. Every unclear Slack message, every "jumping on a quick call" without an agenda, and every fire drill chips away at your team's energy. High-performing teams don’t just work harder; they protect their focus by being intentional about how and when they communicate.
The RTB Strategy: The 3 C’s Framework
To eliminate the "guessing game," we follow the 3 C's to a T every time work is delegated. Use this template the next time you assign a task:
1. Clarity: Define the "What" and the "When."
- Try saying: "The deliverable is [X]. It is due by [Date/Time]. Success looks like [Specific Metric/Outcome]."
2. Context: Explain the "Why."
- Try saying: "This matters because [How it fits into the big picture]. Understanding this will help your team make decisions if you’re not available."
3. Check-In: Create Psychological Safety.
- Try asking: "What feels unclear about this? Do you have the resources/access you need to start?"
Ask this question in meetings or after assigning projects via text and you’ll see the immediate difference it makes.
Pro Tip: Never ask "Is that clear?" The power dynamic of leadership often forces a "Yes."
Instead, ask "what feels unclear?" or “what do you have questions about” - It assumes there might be a gap and gives your team permission to be honest.
Putting it into Practice: The Strategic Rhythm
The 3 C's work best when they are backed by a predictable schedule. Here’s an actual communication schedule with someone on our remote team.
- Schedule meetings - big picture overviews and delegations
- Set a goal for project
- Provide clarity & context when assigning projects
- Set Draft Date
- Set Final Due Date
- Define success & ask if any further clarity is needed.
- Schedule mid month meeting
By scheduling these, we reduce the need for constant "interruptive" email, slack and text threads. We trade 100 "quick pings" for two high-value, intentional conversations, and assign projects within specific channels. In fact we try to keep all conversation threads assigned to specific tasks within our project management system. That saves us from searching through our inbox, or missing details.
The Last Step: Choosing the Right Channel
A key part of our strategy is choosing the most respectful medium for the message:
- Quick updates or check-ins? Use Slack, email, etc
- Time-sensitive blockers? A brief call (always ask: "Is now a good time?").
- Planning & Alignment? A scheduled meeting works best.
Building momentum comes with communicating more clearly and intentionally, not adding to the noise.
In-house, remote, or hybrid teams don’t fail because people aren’t working hard, they stall because of a lack of clarity, context, and psychological safety.
When you lead with clearer tasks, you get faster results and fewer interruptions. That is how you build a team that doesn't just work - it thrives.
Try this framework, and let us know how it goes.
