Why Clear Communication is Imperative for Effective Leadership
We live in a world where we are constantly communicating with each other. We communicate with the people around us, our family members, our friends, and even complete strangers. Our ability to communicate effectively with these individuals is what allows us to build relationships with them and ultimately move forward in life together. Communication is one of the most important skills that you can develop as a leader because it enables you to better understand your team members as well as help them grow into their roles within an organization.
Effective communication skills are essential for any leader
If you want to be an effective leader, communication is the key. Communication skills are important for building relationships, managing conflict, and developing trust. They're also crucial in building a team because they can help solve problems and make difficult decisions together.
In fact, 86% of leaders and employees cite a lack of communication as being the main cause of workplace failures. In contrast, the productivity of teams who effectively communicate has been shown to increase by as much as 25%. Communication is also very important for teams to work well together and make decisions quickly. Without good communication between team members, it's easy for misunderstandings to arise and slow down progress on projects or tasks.
Communication plays such an important role in all aspects of life that it is no wonder many people struggle with it at some point in their careers or personal lives. But there's no need to panic - if you're having trouble communicating effectively with others, there are ways around this problem!
How to develop your communication skills as a leader
Be a good listener
Open yourself up to feedback and criticism
Be clear and concise
Check-in with your team
By developing your communication skills, you can foster better relationships with your team, increase productivity, and create a more positive work environment. Here are a few tips on how to improve your communication skills:
Be a good listener
Listen actively and show interest in what others have to say. In a study conducted by Workforce Institute, 28% of employees said the number one way that managers could earn their trust was by actively listening. This helps in making people feel heard and valued. As a leader, it’s essential to create a workplace culture that promotes active listening to your team members and colleagues. This means turning away from your laptop, or putting away your smartphone and giving your full attention to the person in front of you.
2. Open yourself up to feedback and criticism
Effective communication is a two-way street. It can be tough to hear, but it's essential for personal and professional growth. To become a better communicator, it’s important to open yourself up to feedback and criticism. This means being receptive to feedback from your team and peers. You can actively seek out feedback by asking open-ended questions, such as “What could I have done better in that meeting?” or “How can I improve my communication with the team?”.
At the same time, explore how to offer this same kind of feedback to others as well. Learn how to celebrate even the small victories, and explore the release of failures in a healthy way.
3. Be clear and concise
“Clarity comes through conversation, specifically by phone or face-to-face. I understand that getting face time can be difficult, but technology is our friend when dealing with teams in multiple locations.” - Michelle Precourt, Founder of Mindful HR Services in a recent interview on communication by Authority Magazine.
Clear and concise communication is essential for effective leadership. When communicating with your team members make sure that you’re using language that is easy to understand. In a study conducted by PwC Canada, 10% of respondents stated their top workplace challenge to be confusion. While you don’t want to put yourself in a position to micro-manage every project, you do need to be clear when delegating tasks to specific team members and setting reasonable and manageable timelines.
4. Check in with your team
You can't communicate effectively if you aren't checking in with your team on a regular basis. If there is anything that needs changing, now is the time to do it before it becomes a bigger issue later on down the road. The first step is to create a safe and welcoming environment where your team feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas with you.
Next, simply ask what they are needing more (or less) of from you. If you have effectively cultivated an environment where your team feels safe in sharing their needs, this should be welcomed. But remember, you need to be clear and specific in these situations.
Lastly, take action! Don’t let the valuable feedback your team has offered you go to waste. Use the feedback you receive to develop an action plan for improving your communication skills.
Remember that effective communication takes practice, so keep working on it, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback along the way.
We need to do better at communicating with each other
As leaders, we also need to do better at communicating with each other. We often need to work together to achieve common goals. Leaders who are unable to communicate effectively with their peers may find themselves at a disadvantage, unable to build the necessary relationships to get things done.
Effective communication can also help to build trust and understanding through enhanced team harmony. When leaders are able to communicate openly and honestly with one another, they are more likely to develop a shared sense of purpose and a common vision for the future. This, in turn, can help to build trust and strengthen relationships, making it easier to work together and achieve shared goals.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to improve your communication and awareness of others, book your spot now in our Mindfulness at Work™ training.
Summary
The importance of communication for effective leadership cannot be overstated. It's the most important skill to develop in your leaders and will help them to be more effective in their work. The good news is that it's not hard to improve your communication skills; all you need is a little bit of practice and commitment.