5 by 5 Leadership
If you’ve ever watched a war movie or an old episode of M*A*S*H, you may have heard the phrase “You’re coming in 5 by 5.” It’s radio slang, originally used by pilots and signal operators, to mean “I can hear you loud and clear.” The first number referred to the strength of the signal (1 = barely audible, 5 = strong as an ox), and the second to the clarity (1 = static, 5 = crystal clear). Put together, 5 by 5 is as good as it gets.
Now, imagine leadership communication judged on the same scale.
5 by 5 leadership: Clear, confident, and strong messages that people can hear, understand, and actually act on.
1 by 1 leadership: Muffled mumbling, riddled with jargon, half-hearted emails, or cryptic one-liners that leave everyone guessing. (Think: “As per my last…” but in human form.)
Most leaders think they’re broadcasting at 5 by 5. But to their teams? It’s often more like 3 by 2—half strong, half garbled, and 100% confusing.
Why it matters
A leader’s job isn’t just to have a vision; it’s to transmit that vision in a way that people can pick up, decode, and run with. A scrambled message doesn’t just waste time—it drains trust and energy.
Practical tips for 5 by 5 leadership
Check your frequency
Achieving 5 by 5 leadership begins with a bit of self-awareness. Before firing off an email or announcing a big initiative, it’s worth asking: Would my team actually understand this if I weren’t there to explain it? If the answer is shaky, you’re already slipping into static territory that could have you hovering at 2 by 3.
Mind the static
Clarity also means resisting the temptation to dress things up with jargon or bury the key point in a 40-slide deck. Leaders who speak plainly and directly cut through the noise, while those who hide behind buzzwords risk sounding like they’re broadcasting through a sock. Clarity beats cleverness every time.
Signal check
And finally, even the strongest, clearest signal isn’t truly 5 by 5 unless it’s received. Great communicators check that their message has landed by asking questions, inviting people to share what they took from the message, or simply noticing when the room appears more confused than convinced. If they’re blinking at you like you’ve just recited a Shakespearean sonnet in Klingon, it’s time to adjust.
So next time you’re leading a meeting, sending out a strategy, or even giving feedback, ask yourself: Am I coming through 5 by 5, or am I barely squeaking in at 1 by 1? Your team’s productivity (and sanity) depends on the difference.