Culture, Clarity & Communication: The Hidden Levers of Leadership with Matthew J. Hoffman

"Most leaders don’t realize communication isn’t just what you say—it’s how you create safety for others to speak. If you want real feedback, you better build a culture that rewards honesty, not punishes it." - Matthew P. Hoffman

Show Notes:

You want to know what derails businesses, even the well-intentioned ones? Communication. Or more accurately, the lack of it. I sat down with Matthew P. Hoffman—author, coach, and co-host of the Kickass Couples Podcast—to unpack how communication isn’t just a soft skill, it’s a survival skill.

Matthew brings the heat with insights drawn from his time leading large teams in senior living communities, writing his book Kickass Husband, and helping couples and companies alike navigate the messiness of human interaction.

We talk about the invisible breakdowns that sabotage culture, the power of empathy in leadership, why “open door policy” isn’t enough, and how trust is built (and broken) one moment at a time. If you’ve ever wondered why your team doesn’t tell you the truth—or your spouse doesn’t feel heard—this one’s for you.

You’ll walk away with practical ways to build a culture of clarity, set healthy boundaries, and create real psychological safety in your organization. And trust me—it’s not about adding another meeting. It’s about owning your responsibility as a leader and learning to actually listen.

Key Takeaways:

• Communication is strategy. If people aren’t clear on what success looks like, you don’t have alignment—you have chaos.

• Culture isn’t what you say—it’s what you tolerate. Leaders must model the behavior they want to see.

• Empathy is a leadership skill. People don’t need you to fix everything—they need to know you get it.

• Boundaries create trust. Agreements aren’t just for couples—they belong in your business, too.

• Praise is free. If you’re not celebrating wins—big or small—you’re starving your team of momentum.

Bio:

Matthew P. Hoffman is a kickass relationship and business/professional coach- a national speaker, trainer, and author. Matthew is a widely respected authority on relationships, radical communication,  and conflict resolution. He specializes in presenting these critical concepts in a fun, entertaining and empowering way that give his clients specific strategies to employ that will drive their business success and elevate their most important human relationships. With a diverse background in business, people and systems thanks to a Liberal Arts degree from Middlebury College and a Masters in Business from Cornell University, Matthew is prepared to meet his clients where they are and help them soar in their critical business and personal relationships.  His work has been featured on ABC, Fox and he is a regular expert contributor on relationships for NBC's "Bloom," in the Florida major market.