August 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Communication is the best AI skill (and soft skills are the neglected one)
When AI gives a poor result, the brief is usually the problem — the same reason delegated work comes back wrong.
When people tell me AI gave them a poor result, the prompt is usually the problem. It's the same reason a delegated task comes back wrong: the brief was unclear.
Right now, most upskilling conversations are about AI. They matter. But in my work with teams, many problems have little to do with technology. A handoff that keeps breaking. A project stalled waiting on a decision. A meeting that ends without an owner. Often the fix isn't a new tool. It's a clearer conversation.
How to brief AI like you'd brief a good colleague
- State the outcome, not just the task. "Summarise this" is a task. "Summarise this for a CEO who has two minutes and needs to decide on budget" is a brief.
- Give context. Who is it for? What's already been decided? What tone fits? A new assistant needs this, and so does an AI.
- Set constraints. Length, format, what to avoid. Good delegation names the boundaries up front.
- Show an example. One sample of what good looks like beats a paragraph of description.
- Review and give feedback. The first draft is a starting point. "Shorter, and lead with the decision" gets you further than starting over.
- Ask it to ask you. "What do you need to know before starting?" surfaces gaps in your own thinking, the same way a good colleague would.
Why soft skills get neglected. Training budgets tend to follow what's new and measurable. Communication, listening, giving feedback and managing expectations are harder to measure, so they're easier to leave for later. "Soft" is a misleading word: these are some of the hardest skills to build, because they depend on self-awareness and practice, not a certification.
Where they show up every day
- Giving a clear brief, so work comes back right the first time
- Giving feedback that's specific, kind and timely
- Saying "I'm not sure" or "I need help" early
- Following through, and closing the loop when you can't
- Listening for the real request behind the stated one
What organisations can do. Treat soft skills as real skills: make time to practise them, name them in role expectations, and model them from the top. Start with one habit, such as a short written brief for every handoff.
If you can't say it clearly to a person, you won't say it clearly to a model either. Technology will keep changing. How well people work with each other will keep deciding how much any of it is worth.