Clarity Manifesto

We are leaders who believe that clarity creates progress.

We refuse to hide behind jargon, performance theater, or persuasion games.

We light the path.

We choose words that inspire action.
We care more about getting it right than about being right.
We believe that better words create better worlds.

We know that true leadership is not showing off in the spotlight.
We turn the spotlight toward the team and the path ahead.

We stand for communication that is:

Plain and simple
Actionable
Transformative
Heartfelt

We don’t persuade harder. We resonate stronger.
We don’t hide behind complexity. We keep it simple.
We don’t leave people in the dark. We light them a path.

Clarity is not a solo act.
It’s how we move forward.
Achieving together what no one could alone.

We are Pathlighters.

Be a voice for clarity!

Do you want to help more people embrace clear and impactful communication? It’s simple.

Share the Clarity Manifesto with your friends, colleagues, and networks.

Talk about it in your next team meeting or book club.

Post your favorite snippet or takeaway on social media.

Every little bit helps light the path for someone else.

Below, we’ve collected a few ideas on how to implement it in your team or company.

Sign the manifesto by sharing it:

How to implement this in your team or company

Where do I start?
Start with your next message. Don’t overthink this.

What’s the easiest way to introduce this to my colleagues?
Use it. If your communication works better because of it, people will notice. Then share the manifesto and explain why you work this way.

How do I use this in my day-to-day conversations?
Say things as simply as you can and check whether people understood. Clarity is not a destination, it’s a path.

How do I deal with leaders above me who don’t live by these principles?
Stay consistent. Show what clarity achieves. Invite them in by making their decisions easier through clear words.

Can clarity really coexist with the complexity of our business?
Yes. Complexity makes clarity essential. It’s the only way people can act with confidence in a complex system. Simplicity is not the opposite of complexity but the prerequisite to it.

How do I know if my communication is plain and simple enough?
Ask someone outside your field to repeat back what they understood. If they can, you’ve been clear. If not, refine and repeat.

What’s the best way to spot when I’ve slipped back into jargon?
If people hesitate, ask for repetition, or don’t follow through, it’s a signal to simplify your words.

How can I practice this when everything feels urgent?
Choose one message a day to slow down for. Over time, it
becomes habit and will be your natural way of communicating.

Why this manifesto?

We are drowning in noise.
Endless messages. Endless meetings. Endless words.
But the more is said, the less is understood.

This manifesto is for all of us who believe in a better way.

Clarity matters more than ever.

Who wrote it?

I’m Dr. Michael Gerharz, a communication coach and author of The PATH to Strategic Impact. I put the words on paper, but this manifesto comes from what I’ve learned with the many leaders I’ve worked with. It’s as much theirs as it is mine.