5 simple ideas to help leaders communicate better at work

April 25th 2018 | Posted by phil scott

5 simple ideas to help leaders communicate better at work

Being a successful leader in the workplace requires tenacity, drive, commitment and dedication.  A leader also needs the ability to work well with people at any level of the business, whether that’s with internal colleagues, external clients or any other stakeholder of an organisation.  A successful leader doesn’t focus only on themselves and their responsibilities, but looks at the wider business and their place within this.

The key to being a successful leader is successful communication.  Without positive (and adaptable) communication, a leader is at risk of losing out on the trust and loyalty of those around them and can find it harder to build strong working relationships.  Effective communication between a leader and those around them is essential for a business to survive.

A leader can make an impact and effect changes in the workplace by focusing on their communication activities and style:

Define objectives and create shared goals

A leader can’t expect the wider team to have the same commitment to the greater good of the businesses if they haven’t been fully briefed on the main business goals.  A key responsibility of a leader is to clearly define business objectives and created a feeling of shared goals amongst the team.  If everybody is working towards the same objectives then there will be a greater sense of unity and shared commitment.  Focusing on effectively communicating to people the objectives once they’ve been set is essential.

Keep the team updated and involved

Again, a strong and self-aware leader will understand how critical it is to keep a team up to date on relevant issues affecting them.  Nobody likes the feeling of being late to the party when it comes to finding out work news!  People want to feel valued and appreciated and an essential part of a project.  By keeping them updated and involved, a leader is able to foster a sense of inclusion that will undoubtedly created better results.

Making sure a team is given regular, informative and inclusive updates on positive news or any major issues will reap rewards.

Provide personal communication opportunities

As well as ensuring that communication is strong between a leader and the overall team, it is important to provide individual opportunities for communication on a one-to-one basis.

In the workplace, people need to feel that their feedback is welcome and that there is an opportunity for questions, ideas and issues to be raised.  A leader that makes themselves available for personal interaction will develop strong, open working relationships with employees who feel understood and valued.

For this type of communication to work, leaders should be willing to hear both positive and negative feedback and view all feedback in an objective and professional way.

Deliver direct messages

When it comes to effective communication, there is no room for vague messages that may be hard for the team to interpret and understand.

As a leader it’s crucial to be certain about what you need to communicate and to shape the message in a way that is easy to understand.  A direct message with a beginning middle and an end that tells the team exactly what is needed, will achieve better results than convoluted discussions with no clear points.

Spread positivity

A leader should take charge with a positive attitude to achieve success.  Communicating messages with positivity, confidence and pride will help create these same feelings amongst the team.

Regular internal communication, such as email updates or informal announcements, will keep a team motivated to achieve success.