What do you do if your leadership communication style isn't connecting with diverse audiences?

If your leadership communication style isn't resonating with diverse audiences, it's crucial to adapt and employ inclusive strategies. Firstly, actively listen to understand various perspectives and experiences. Use language and examples that are relatable and culturally sensitive. Foster an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Consider incorporating different communication channels such as visual aids, storytelling, or interactive sessions to engage diverse groups effectively. Collaborate with diverse team members to co-create communication approaches that cater to a wide range of backgrounds and preferences. Continuous feedback and reflection on your communication style will also help in improving its impact.

Start by gaining a deeper understanding of your audience - their backgrounds, cultures, values, and communication preferences. Tailor your communication to reflect this understanding, using language and examples that resonate with them. Incorporate inclusive language that respects and values diversity. Cultivate empathy and active listening skills, demonstrating that you value others' perspectives and experiences. Seek feedback to gauge if your revised approach is more effective and make additional adjustments as necessary.

Before establishing communication, it is must to learn about the audience or the listener else your communication wouldn't be so effective as you thought of. And in case where you have divers audience then you will have to mold your communication smartly in such way that your message is loud and clear to all, sometimes in a way of words, sometimes in way of gestures and sometimes through your gratitude. I would say that make communication with diversify audience is like as Art. The more you practise, the more you learn and more you become effective.

Learning about your audience at its essence acknowledges a key aspect of communication (which is often dismissed): the effectiveness of your communication isn't measured by how great you (think you) delivered a message, but by how well that message is understood by your audience. Therefore, being audience-centric allows you to flex your style in order to maximize your impact.

The key to effective communication is being able to adapt it to your audience. If you are not adapting, you are simply broadcasting and that is no longer any form of two way engagement. To successful communicate you need clear empathy for those you want to communicate with and the leverage the tools you need to engage with them effectively.

Over the years, I've learned to prioritize active listening to understand unique perspectives. Transparency is also crucial; I aim to be open about challenges and decisions, fostering trust and a culture of open dialogue. I find it important to balance assertiveness and empathy. I've also committed to continuous learning, seeking new ways to improve my skills and welcoming constructive feedback.

If the audience is large, you need to broaden your style to appeal to a wider variety of people. Don't tailor and target communication styles like you would for an individual; broaden your style more. Include some facts and figures for the logical people, and tell a human story from the heart to appeal to the "feelings" people in the audience. Ensure you sprinkle in a variety of sensory predicates - see, feel, hear, think etc. And be warm and likeable - a smile and a confident, friendly and accessible demeanour works across ALL communication types. Be a human first :)

Being acceptable to change is not always easy, but in order to effectively communicate your style may need to be adjusted or totally changed to provide your audience with the best experience. The message may be transferable to several audience types, but how its delivered should be makes a huge difference on how it will be received. Know your audience and allow yourself to adapt to them.

The headline here says it all - adapt your style. Look at your choice of words and body gestures. Are they genuine or are you trying to emulate people from other cultures? That never goes over well - even in a comedy routine. Today's "rules of the workplace" require that you be yourself, however, with the appropriate filters and lens to understand where that line of inclusion sits. Privately, ask people that you know in your network or from other organizations to give you some insights into why your style isn't working. Ask people within your company the same question. Be prepared for potentially even harsh criticism - but let it land. Show people that you listened by adapting your style.

In my experience the key here is seeking feedback, which requires being vulnerable. The topic is that your "leadership communication style" isn't connecting with "diverse audiences." That could mean a lot of different things. Find out which one is at work as fast as possible. And find out by seeking guidance from sources as close to the "diverse audience" as possible. Some humility goes a long way. It needs to be clear that YOU want to IMPROVE and DO BETTER. If you can pinpoint the diverse audience, I'd seriously consider hiring an expert for help rather than relying on free emotional labour, especially if the topic presses against systemic oppression (for example - I'm white and the diverse audience is mostly Black)

So, communication is more than just words. Things like your tone, how fast you talk, and even the way you pause all matter. But don't forget about your body language—it's super important, too. Also known as Somatic Communication, it helps the person communicating to remove subconscious barriers, build trust, and make everyone feel included. So, if you want to connect with all kinds of people, pay attention to how you present yourself with somatic communication.

If you find that your way of communicating as a leader is not resonating with different groups of people, it's important to start engaging in active listening. One of my mentors once shared with me that if people are not understanding you, it's better to stop talking and start listening. I strongly believe that we can become so focused on ourselves, even if we have good intentions, and this can lead to a communication style that is self-centered and does not benefit anyone and ultimately hinders our ability to engage in effective two-way communication.