Part 5: The 6 communication skills to improve in the age of AI - Pausing before you respond

Part 5: The 6 communication skills to improve in the age of AI - Pausing before you respond

From Rethinking Communication by Michael Ashford

February 23, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

In this episode, Michael Ashford discusses the importance of pausing before responding as a key communication skill in the age of AI.

AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this fifth episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of pausing before you respond. I share my perspective on how taking a moment to reflect can transform conflicts into growth opportunities and improve leadership effectiveness. Practicing the skill of pausing before you respond to criticism, feedback, ideas you don't agree with, or disrespect is difficult but essential for effective leadership. Asking questions like "What could I be missing?" opens the door to growth, with e mpathy and curiosity being vital tools in your communication toolkit. To learn more about my communication coaching, go to https://michaelashford.com .

People in this episode

Host: Michael Ashford

Topics covered

  • communication skills
  • artificial intelligence
  • leadership
  • conflict resolution
  • self-improvement

Keywords

  • pausing
  • communication
  • AI
  • leadership effectiveness
  • conflict transformation
  • empathy
  • curiosity

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