Suggesting that the old saying "It's not what you say, it's how you say it" rings true for one educational leader, a Speech Pathologist, keenly aware of the necessity of effective communication and its impact on leadership. Possessing the quality of effective communication makes for a high quality leader because it enables one to express ideas successfully. Effective verbal and non-verbal communication helps to establish credibility during message delivery. Articulation, fluency, language, voice, listening and writing skills, as well as the use of gestures are dynamic elements that enhance the leader. The paper discusses these communication qualities which are essential for effective leadership. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/RS)