India, March 18 -- Leadership communication is a high-stakes game where miscalculations can turn into global embarrassment. The recent Oval Office showdown between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and United States President Donald Trump exemplifies what happens when a leader misreads power dynamics, fails to adapt, and allows personal branding to overshadow strategic diplomacy. The meeting spiralled into an awkward spectacle, with some arguing that Zelensky appeared naive and others accusing Trump and vice president JD Vance of outright hostility. But the more profound lesson here is about communication-how leaders misinterpret the room, fail to adjust their tone, and disregard essential elements of persuasion.

Zelensky came to po...