Misaligned communication habits—whether around response times, preferred channels, or writing style—can lead to missed deadlines, frustrated colleagues, and lost productivity. As digital tools proliferate and AI-generated writing becomes more common, it’s more important than ever for leaders to set clear, shared norms for how teams communicate. Drawing on extensive research and experience advising organizations from the U.S. Army to Microsoft, the authors outline five conversations every leader should have with their teams to build a more consistent and effective communication culture.

My students call it “Chat,” a cute nickname they all seem to have agreed on at some point. They use it to make study guides, interpret essay prompts, and register for classes, turning it loose on t…