Open communication is a core leadership skill that is vital to the success of your team. Effective communication and effective leadership are closely connected. Leaders must be able to think with clarity, express ideas and share information with a multitude of audiences. Arguably, the audience that should come first and foremost is the communication with your team. Below are some ways to make it easier for you and your team to be on the same page.
- Set Clear Expectations
Whether you’re sending an email to your entire team, leading a group discussion, or having a one-on-one conversations, expectations need to be set so your team understands what you need from them. This takes the guessing work out of their job and helps the company to succeed.
- Provide Transparency
When a process or job task changes, be direct but also include the reasoning for why a decision was made. This not only establishes trust with your employees but also opens up a conversation for those in in the room to communicate with you. By doing so, another solution or process that is more effective could be brought about that may not have come to mind when you made the original decision.
- Create Psychological Safety
Leaders are leaders for a reason: they lead the way in making it safe for their teams to share ideas or give constructive feedback. Reinforce your words with body language. Showing positive body language like eye contact, nodding, and other relaxed gestures can inspire team members and make them feel more comfortable communicating with you.
Workplace communication is a moving target. Leaders must continue to find new ways to make their communications more effective, purposeful, and trustworthy. When Communication is effective, it leaves all parties involved satisfied and accomplished. By delivering messages clearly, there is no room for misunderstanding or alteration of messages, which decreases the potential for workplace conflict.
