Successful Leader Practice #2: Communication

In the world of leadership, communication often stands as the biggest hurdle to success. Over my 30 years of experience in HR and leadership coaching, I have seen how mastering the art of communication can transform a good leader into a great one.

A great leader communicates effectively to guide their team through both calm and turbulent times with clarity and empathy.

This is the fourth article in a five-part series that I’m writing on effective leadership skills. In the first, I shared an overview of the three things successful leaders do. In the second, I steered leaders toward tactics to develop emotional intelligence (EQ). The third stressed the importance of knowledgeable navigation of an evolving business landscape. The final article dives deeper into empowerment, a critical skill when leading a team.

Effective communication is the wind that fills the sails of your leadership, propelling your team forward. Without it, you risk leaving your team adrift, struggling to stay motivated and aligned. In this article, I’ll explore why communication is so vital for leaders and provide actionable tips to help improve this essential skill, especially when the stakes are high.

Leading Your Team with Effective Communication

Communication is the lifeblood of leadership. It sets the tone for your team's success, influencing amorphous qualities like morale and objective measures like productivity.

As a skilled sailor adjusts sails to catch the wind, leaders adapt their communication style to meet their team's needs. This dynamic process involves both speaking and listening to ensure every team member feels heard and understood.

Effective communication empowers teams by creating a shared vision, building trust, and encouraging collaboration. When leaders communicate openly and honestly, they foster a supportive atmosphere that encourages valued team members to contribute to the organization's success.

Emotional intelligence is the bedrock of clear, compassionate communication. Leaders with high EQ can communicate more effectively because they understand their own emotions and those of their team members.

Here’s how EQ enhances communication:

• Self-awareness: Recognizing your own communication style and its impact on others.
• Self-regulation: Managing your emotional responses to maintain clarity and effectiveness.
• Empathy: Valuing and understanding others’ emotions to build trust and rapport.
• Social skills: Navigating social interactions to foster positive relationships.

I’ve often seen leaders face a number of pitfalls when they haven’t yet honed their communication skills. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations can derail projects, while a lack of transparency breeds mistrust. Ineffective listening can deflate team morale, leaving members feeling undervalued. In my coaching experiences, I’ve seen how these issues can escalate and lead to a breakdown in team cohesion and productivity. Applying some simple yet effective strategies can help improve your communication skills.

Strategies for Effective Communication

Building more powerful communication skills doesn’t have to be complicated. To improve communication, leaders can adopt several practical strategies:

• Use active listening: Truly hearing your team involves more than just listening. It requires engaging with their ideas and feedback. Clear distractions to give individuals undivided attention, process what they tell you, and summarize it back to them to test your understanding of what you heard them say.
• Articulate your message clearly: Convey messages concisely and precisely to help prevent misunderstandings. To make sure this happens, take a few minutes before a meeting to write down the message you want your team to take away. You can even use generative AI to clarify a draft email or message before you send it.
• Seek and provide feedback: Encourage a two-way communication channel where feedback is both given and received. Ask for suggestions for improvement from your team on a regular basis, and use your active listening skills to receive that feedback graciously. Model a positive feedback cycle.
• Adapt your communication style: One-size-fits-all approaches don’t work for team members with disparate communication styles. Tailor your approach to meet the unique needs of different team members. It shows that you understand who the person is and what their needs are, while creating a more comfortable work environment for individuals.

One of the most critical aspects of leadership communication is honesty, and it’s never more important than when there’s bad news to share. Leaders must avoid sugar-coating bad information. Transparency is vital to maintain your credibility. When leaders downplay or avoid sharing difficult news, they risk losing their team's trust.

To communicate bad news effectively:

• Be honest and direct: Clearly explain the situation without ambiguity.
• Provide context: Help team members understand the reasons behind the news.
• Offer support: Show empathy and provide resources to help the team navigate challenges.

When Things Get Hard: Communication when Managing Change

Put yourself in the shoes of a mid-level manager who skillfully communicates to steer through a major company restructuring. They maintain transparency and regularly update their team. The result: This manager preserves trust and morale, leading to a smoother transition during a time of tumultuous change. Conversely, a leader who communicates poorly during a crisis sees a decline in team cohesion and productivity.

Clear, consistent, and honest communication plays a crucial role when managing change. It’s crucial to use effective change management strategies when delivering often-difficult messages related to significant change events. Change can be unsettling, and leaders must handle it with care.

Effective change management involves:

• Preparing the team: Communicate early and often about upcoming changes. Provide as much information as possible to reduce uncertainty.
• Engaging stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders in the planning and implementation process to ensure their concerns are addressed and to gain their support.
• Providing training and resources: Equip your team with the necessary tools and knowledge to adapt to the changes.
• Monitoring progress and providing feedback: Regularly check in with your team to assess how they’re coping with the changes and to offer ongoing support.

Using these strategies helps to mitigate resistance, build trust, and ensure a smoother transition for your team during times of change.

Reflect on Your Own Communication Practices

Mastering communication is crucial for any leader's success. Supported by emotional intelligence, effective communication involves listening, speaking, and—most importantly—being transparent and honest. Leaders who embrace these practices can build trust, foster collaboration, and steer their teams toward achieving shared goals. By focusing on effective communication, you can overcome one of the biggest hurdles to leadership success and guide your team to new heights.

I invite you to reflect on your own communication practices. What are you already good at? Are there areas where you can improve? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

For more resources and guidance on effective communication as a leader, feel free to reach out or explore other resources on my website.

Please also see:

1. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High / Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory, MD
2. Dare to Lead / Brené Brown
3. Leading Change / John P. Kotter

Learn more from Ken Meyers’ Successful Leaders series:

3 Things that Successful Leaders Do | EQ: The Cornerstone of Leadership Success | Successful Leader Practice #1: Navigation

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