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Welcome

I remember when I first started in a leadership role, I actually thought my strongest strength for the role was communication. It was the one thing I felt the leaders I saw and worked with were not very good at this. Yet it was my greatest fail.

I remember running my first team meeting and I made some changes straight off the bat with structure and coverage areas with my team. I had given some of them the heads up. I got a lot of questions as to why and what the outcome was. My response was simply “I don’t think the old way worked, this way is better and more sensible”. We ended the meeting and I thought everyone was aligned and everything would be great.

I then had a colleague who was a friend come up and said “That went down like a lead ballon, think you need to re-think this approach or let us understand why”.

It was in that moment I realised my communication was not great and I had to re-think my approach or this would be a disaster overall!

As I have grown and managed since then large and global teams as well as coached leaders of all levels, the one thing I have noticed, and this may well be due the current world of hybrid and remote working, but communication for leaders is the most important thing.

Out of the four pillars I have listed out if you don’t get this section right and do it well, everything else will be extremely hard for you as a leader. If you are going to invest and really develop it is here, in communication.

But all the pillars are truly important 😁

Why Communication is Critical

As a leader, you might think your job is to give orders or provide direction, but the reality is much deeper. Communication is the bridge between you and your team, turning ideas into action and confusion into clarity. Communication is the one thing that drives a team.

Just think of a sports team, if they didn’t communicate around their movement, where to play the ball or whether they were going to get the ball, then I can truly say that in team sport they will not be champions. How they communicate from coach to the leader on the pitch is hugely important, and at times can define whether they get that win or not.

Here’s the hard truth: many leaders think they’re great communicators, but their teams don’t feel the same (take me for example!!). Misaligned goals, unclear instructions, and missed expectations often stem from one source, poor communication.

If you can master communication as a leader, you’ll see immediate benefits in your team’s performance, trust, and morale. All the other areas in leadership will be so much easier if you consistency review how you communicate to your team regularly.

Make sure to ensure you align how you communicate to the team and individuals too (more on that next week).

What Great Communication Looks Like

1. Clarity: Your team shouldn’t have to guess your expectations. Clear communication removes ambiguity and creates alignment.

   Example: Instead of saying, “Let’s improve this project,” say, “Let’s focus on refining the report by adding specific data on X by Friday.”

2. Active Listening: Communication isn’t just about speaking—it’s about truly hearing what others are saying.

   Tip: Paraphrase what someone has said to confirm your understanding, e.g., “If I understand correctly, you’re concerned about the timeline. Is that right?”

3. Empathy: Tailor your communication to resonate with the individual. What motivates one team member may not motivate another.

   Tip: Use 1:1s to learn how each team member prefers to receive feedback or updates. More on communication styles next week!

4. Consistency: Communication shouldn’t only happen when something goes wrong. Consistent updates and check-ins build trust and prevent surprises.

5. Adaptability: Different situations require different approaches. A crisis demands brevity and decisiveness, while brainstorming benefits from open-ended dialogue.

Practical Steps to Improve Communication

1. Use 1:1 Meetings Wisely:

   Regular 1:1s are your best tool for open dialogue. Ask questions like, “How do you feel about the team’s direction?” and “Is there anything I can do to better support you?”

   Pay attention to how in 1:1’s they like to communicate or interact with you, this will give you guidance on how best to communicate with them.

2. Simplify Your Messaging:

   Avoid jargon or overly complex language. Clear and simple messages are easier to understand and act on.

3. Ask for Feedback on Your Communication:

   Use questions like, “Do you feel I’ve communicated our goals clearly?” to gauge how well you’re doing and adjust.

4. Check Understanding:

   Don’t assume your message has landed. Ask team members to repeat back what they’ve understood.

5. Be Present:

   Whether in a meeting or a quick chat, give your team your full attention. Distractions signal disinterest and erode trust.

Reflection Question: What’s one area of communication you’d like to improve?

And what are you going to do about it over the next week? Write out an action plan to improve that one area.

Book Recommendation

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

Summary:

This book offers practical strategies for navigating high-stakes conversations. Whether it’s addressing performance issues, negotiating conflict, or delivering tough feedback, Crucial Conversations equips you with tools to communicate effectively and maintain trust.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Start with Heart: Focus on what you really want from the conversation and approach it with empathy.

2. Master Your Stories: Learn to separate facts from emotions to avoid escalating conflict.

3. Create Safety: Ensure the other person feels heard and respected, even in difficult discussions.

Week 3 Preview: Communication Styles

Communication isn’t one-size-fits-all. Like the 5 Love Languages, people have preferred ways of giving and receiving information. Next week, we’ll explore the “5 Communication Styles” for teams:

1. Detail-Oriented: Prefers facts, data, and precision.

2. Visionary: Motivated by big-picture ideas and future possibilities.

3. Collaborative: Thrives on dialogue, brainstorming, and teamwork.

4. Direct: Values concise, action-oriented messages.

5. Empathetic: Seeks connection, tone, and emotional context.

Understanding these styles will help you adapt your communication to resonate with everyone on your team.

PS Don’t forget to check out my store on-line here