Great Leaders Are Clear Communicators

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Great Leaders are Clear Communicators?

Uncertainty sucks. In stressful times, teams crave clarity in the fogginess. Employees want something clear to latch onto that gives them more than hope; they want messages that give them direction, too. When there’s internal and external pressure, it’s even more important to communicate to your team in a way that’s uncomplicating and motivating.

Here are four ways the greatest leaders communicate during challenging situations:?

1. Communicate decisions clearly and state how and why you made them: Some managers tell their teams what to do, but it’s more persuasive to also tell them how you made the decision and why you need their help because it adds meaning behind your ask. Your teams want to understand not just what they need to do, but why it matters to you or the company. When they know the factors behind your decisions, it’s more meaningful to them to take action.
2. Tell stories to increase your credibility: Telling personal stories about tough situations you’ve overcome helps in a couple ways. Your stories show your authentic personal side which helps the team trust and follow you. And when you tell stories of times you struggled through a similar crisis it lets others know you’ve walked this path before. Sharing stories of when you tried and failed signals to your team that you know what not to do as well as what to do. Stories uncover insights about your heart and help them understand why you lead the way you do.??
3. Use visuals to make your decisions understandable: Presenting information visually helps them see what you’re saying. Explain your ideas in the form of a visual mental model, for instance by turning words into diagrams, that your team will be better able to remember and retain. Visual storytelling is more than putting nice photos on a slide; it’s about making your idea visually sticky and actionable, too. And, when you need your ideas to breed like a bunny inside the organization, but you can’t present in person, write it out in prose in a short, skimmable Slidedoc where each page makes your message v-e-r-y clear.
4. Encourage two-way communication by listening: Remember that in tough times, your teams need to feel heard, and communication is a two-way street. Each person on your team will be impacted differently in tough times so make each one feel heard in a unique way. Be conscious of the fact that your default listening style might not be the way they want or need to feel heard. Adapt how you listen to so each person feels understood.??

In crisis, it’s not just what you say but how you say it that counts. Your teams need you to show up confident and clear and in return, they’ll believe you are the best person to guide them to a brighter outcome. How you frame and communicate messages is what will help you and your teams emerge to the other side of uncertainty in a stronger position. Using storytelling in your communication will help your team see the purpose of the journey you’re asking them to go on and make the trip seem worth it to them.?

If you have further questions on this topic, leave a comment and I'm all over it!

Thanks for reading,?

Want to know more about storytelling in business? The expert communication consultants, creatives, trainers, and coaches at Duarte are here to help. Whether you choose to learn from us or work with us, we’ll transform how you and your teams communicate using the Duarte Method?.?Contact us?to learn more – we look forward to hearing from you!?

?Duarte, Inc. 2008