# #39: Don’t Just Lead — Communicate With Intention. Wes Kao Shows You How

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501/39-don-t-just-lead-communicate-with-intention-wes-kao-shows-you-how
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501/39-don-t-just-lead-communicate-with-intention-wes-kao-shows-you-how.md
Podcast: [CLOSER with Rachel Lim](https://stenobird.com/podcast/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501)
Published: 2025-04-01T23:50:00+00:00
Episode link: https://episode.flightcast.com/p450lt30lsseoys0ssk1e4od.mp3
Audio file: https://episode.flightcast.com/p450lt30lsseoys0ssk1e4od.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501/episodes/39-don-t-just-lead-communicate-with-intention-wes-kao-shows-you-how
Duration seconds: 2246

## Resource

In this powerful episode, Wes Kao; co-founder of Maven and pioneer of cohort-based learning, joins us to explore what separates good leaders from great ones, and why intentional communication is at the heart of it all. We dive into everything from how to sharpen your judgment and make faster, better decisions, to why concise communication isn't just efficient, it's essential. Wes unpacks her signature concept of “avoiding negative inception” and shows how certain well-meaning phrases can actually sabotage your message and plant doubt. We also talk about how to turn worries into action, why owning your strengths is a quiet superpower, and what it looks like to challenge your own thoughts with intention. Wes shares her biggest leadership challenge to date, and how she learned to balance transparency with confidence, especially when leading through uncertainty. If you're a leader, creator, or communicator of any kind, this conversation is packed with tactical wisdom that will shift how you speak, lead, and show up. Topics we cover: The communication traps even smart leaders fall into What it means to “incept negative ideas” and how to avoid it Why saying less can help you lead more effectively The underrated power of self-awareness and reframing How to personalise your communication to truly connect Tune in and learn how to lead not just with vision, but with voice. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Wes Kao’s Passion for Education 02:08 Good vs Great Leadership: What Sets Them Apart? 04:12 How to Sharpen Your Judgement and Make Better Decisions 08:28 The Importance of Concise Communication 10:24 Stop Incepting Negative Ideas: How to Protect Your Message 14:41 Turning Your Worries Into Action 18:54 The Beauty of Owning Your Strengths 22:53 Saying ‘No’ to Unproductive Struggles 26:3…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501/episodes/39-don-t-just-lead-communicate-with-intention-wes-kao-shows-you-how/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/closer-with-rachel-lim-6348501/39-don-t-just-lead-communicate-with-intention-wes-kao-shows-you-how.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.