Why Communication Fails in STEM—and How to Fix It

In STEM, communication isn’t about polished eloquence or perfect writings. It’s about understanding others and being understood—while respecting one another. When that connection is missing, the consequences are costly: stalled projects, frustrated teams, and diminished productivity.

Imagine Sarah, a data scientist, presenting her findings to developers, marketers, and executives. Her slides are clear, her data compelling. Yet, developers are nodding off, marketers look confused, and executives ask questions disconnected from her core insights.

What went wrong?

Sarah’s presentation exists in a vacuum. She speaks the language of her field but hasn’t tailored her message to her audience. Developers want feasibility, marketers care about customer impact, and executives focus on strategic implications. By failing to adapt to her colleagues, Sarah leaves everyone feeling frustrated.

Instead of sparking collaboration, the meeting becomes an exercise in miscommunication. Sarah’s insights, though valuable, are lost in translation. Innovation slips away, and tension fills the room as the team leaves disengaged.

Too many meetings end like this—but they don’t have to.

If Sarah had adapted her message to each colleague’s needs, she could have sparked dynamic collaboration. Developers’ technical concerns, marketers’ focus on customer impact, and executives’ strategic goals could have been addressed. The result? Clarity, energy, and alignment.

This kind of communication doesn’t just make leaders more effective—it builds trust, engagement, and innovation across teams.

Writing or speaking well is valuable, but without genuine understanding, it falls flat. Attunement and connection are the foundations of effective communication.

As a former research specialist with two decades of experience, I’ve seen communication failures derail progress—not because of lack of speaking or writing skills, but because people failed to step out of their own perspectives and engage with others. For STEM leaders, where collaboration is essential, attunement, empathy, and adaptability are the true powers of communication.

Early in my career, I struggled with this myself. Over time, I developed tools to bridge these gaps—and now, I help others do the same.

I offer tailored programs that address these challenges head-on. Combining simple, effective models with the precision of the Enneagram, I help leaders and teams achieve alignment and collaboration that drives results.

Imagine a workplace where meetings are productive, misunderstandings resolved, and teams energized.

Take your leadership and team from misalignment to excellence. Contact me to schedule a free discovery call to discuss your needs.