Commitment has been the bugbear for leaders and organisations throughout history. It’s about genuinely engaging with people, listening, and adapting. One powerful tool gaining traction in leadership development workshops is the Will-Skill Matrix—a framework that helps leaders understand what their team members need to thrive.

Understanding the Will-Skill Matrix

The Will-Skill Matrix maps out employees across two axes: will (motivation) and skill (capability). The combination of these two factors places individuals into four quadrants:

1. High Will, High Skill – Confident self-starters ready for autonomy
   
2. High Will, Low Skill – Enthusiastic learners who need support
   
3. Low Will, High Skill – Capable but disengaged team members
   
4. Low Will, Low Skill – Individuals needing close guidance
   

Recognising where someone falls in the matrix helps leaders tailor their approach and better foster commitment at the workplace.

Communicating with Purpose: Ask, Suggest, Tell

Here’s where leadership becomes an art. Communication—especially tone and intent—can either build or break trust. Leaders can use three powerful voice strategies to match their team’s needs: Ask, Suggest, and Tell.

1. Tell works best with those low in both will and skill. It creates structure, sets expectations, and provides clarity.
   
2. Suggest fits those high in will but low in skill—offering guidance without dampening enthusiasm.
   
3. Ask is ideal for those with high skill but low motivation. It invites reflection and ownership, and with high-performers, it promotes collaboration and innovation.
   

This intentional use of voice, as explored in leadership and training sessions inspired by SoundWaveⓡ’s work, helps leaders build deeper connections and move people forward—no matter where they start.

From Insight to Action

To integrate this into your leadership program, start by helping managers assess their team using the Will-Skill Matrix. Then, coach them on adjusting their communication style using Ask, Suggest, and Tell. The result? Higher engagement, clearer expectations, and a stronger culture of accountability and growth.

Leadership isn’t just about knowing what to say—it’s about knowing how to say it, and when. When you lead with awareness and intention, you don’t just drive performance—you inspire commitment.

To be in clarity in Singapore, get in touch with us about better conversation skills, EQ workshop for leaders and communication skills courses in Singapore.