Why I Wrote Overcommunicate

I grew up in a family where questions weren’t just allowed—they were essential. A curious kid raised in the chaos of a newsroom, I learned early that information wasn’t power—clarity was. After two decades in journalism, consulting, and advising leaders navigating uncertainty, I kept seeing the same patterns: brilliant ideas buried under poor communication, strategic plans lost in translation, teams burned out and confused.

I wrote Overcommunicate because I’ve lived both sides—reporting stories and building them. I know what happens when leaders assume too much and say too little. This book is my way of handing you the flashlight I wish I had earlier in my career.

Why This Book Matters Now

We’re in the middle of a leadership trust crisis. Employees are exhausted. Stakeholders are skeptical. Messaging fatigue is real.

The leaders who will thrive in this decade are not the loudest, most charismatic, or most polished—they are the ones who communicate with clarity, courage, and intention. Overcommunicate offers a blueprint for that kind of leadership—especially in hybrid, high-stakes, fast-moving environments.

If you’re leading in this moment, you can’t afford to default to vague memos, cascading chaos, or last-minute ‘town halls’. The time to upgrade how you communicate is right now.

What Makes This Book Different

Too many leadership books give you tips. This one gives you tools.

Overcommunicate doesn’t just tell you to “be authentic” or “show empathy”—it shows you how to build a communication system, one that helps people understand, believe, and act. It’s grounded in real stories from real organizations, not TED Talk fluff or CEO hero narratives.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• Why leaders often think they’re being clear when they’re not (and how to fix it)

• How to build a “Communication Flywheel” that aligns your team and builds trust

• The secret to high-stakes messaging that actually sticks

• What it really means to overcommunicate—and why doing it well is the most underused leadership superpower

This is not a book of buzzwords. It’s a guide you’ll turn to again and again.

What’s In It for You – The Reader Transformation

This book meets you where you are—and helps you get where you want to go.

By the end, you’ll shift from:

• Communicating to check a box → to Communicating to drive momentum

• Managing stakeholder expectations → to Inspiring trust and shared ownership

• Feeling like you’re repeating yourself → to becoming the voice your team actually hears

You’ll become the kind of leader whose words move people—not just inform them.

Is This Book for You?

If you’re…

👉 A first-time executive

…and you’re struggling to get buy-in, this book will help you build your voice and leadership presence through clarity and repetition.

👉 A mid-level leader

…feeling stuck between executive vision and team execution, this book offers strategies to align both ends without burning out in the middle.

👉 A founder or entrepreneur

…torn between product, team, and pitch decks, this book helps you simplify your message so your people get it—and act on it.

👉 An aspiring leader

…wondering how to lead without a title, Overcommunicate shows you how influence begins with intentional communication, not authority.

My Hope for This Book

My hope is that Overcommunicate becomes more than a book. I hope it becomes a trusted companion—something you mark up, return to, and share with your team when you’re stuck. I want it to spark conversations, shift mindsets, and give leaders everywhere a new standard for what great communication looks like.

Join the Movement—Become an Early Adopter

I’m building a community of early readers, backers, and believers who know that better communication can build better companies—and better futures.

When you support the campaign, you’ll:

✅ Get early access to the book and exclusive content
✅ Join a private reader community with behind-the-scenes insights
✅ Help shape how this book lands in the world
✅ Be part of a movement to raise the bar for leadership

This isn’t just about buying a book. It’s about joining a conversation that matters—and helping get this guide into the hands of leaders who need it most.

About Rob Johnson

Rob Johnson is an Emmy Award-winning former TV Anchor/Reporter with more than 30 years in journalism, where he built a trustworthy, credible, high-integrity brand. Nearly six years ago, he founded Rob Johnson Communications, a firm devoted to helping his corporate and not-for-profit clients achieve their communications goals.

Rob helps C-Suite executives and government officials with media training and messaging strategy, navigating through crises, internal and external communications, and reputation management. Rob also assists clients with YouTube content creation, virtual presentation training, virtual/in-person production of shareholder and inter-company meetings, and marketing videos.

Rob also partners with several marketing, strategy, and PR agencies, which includes The Harbinger Group, where he conducts media training and crisis communications. Rob is also a Senior Advisor at Kann Advisory Group where he conducts presentation workshops and broadcast talent coaching. 

Rob co-hosts the “Can You Hear Me?” podcast with Eileen Rochford of The Harbinger Group. He serves on the boards of Special Olympics Illinois, Concussion Legacy Foundation, and Mission Neem.

Rob is also available for workshops and keynote speeches. He is writing Overcommunicate: A Guide for Business Executives and Aspiring Leaders-Available in late 2025

This is Rob’s second book.