THE RULES OF COMMUNICATION FOR BOSSES
63% of workers say poor communication is a reason why they would quit (Addison Group).
86% of employees and executives say lack of effective collaboration and communication is the main cause of workplace failures (Plumble).
91% of 1,000 employees say their bosses lack good communication skills (Interact/ Harris).
It’s safe to say that communication is vital – especially for employers.
Keep reading to see what changes to make to ensure your team is happy, productive, and creative.
CRITICISE CONSTRUCTIVELY
Emphasis on the word ‘constructively’.
Criticism should never leave employees feeling insecure, condemned, or embarrassed. Yes, still deliver the criticism and let them know the severity of it – but it’s not the best idea to tear them down.
Constructive criticism is all about telling them where they went wrong, and what they can do to make it right. Criticism without guidance on doing better will leave people feeling down in the dumps and eventually a clear decrease in morale.
BE AUTHENTIC
People want a leader they can look up to, and it’s impossible to look up to someone who doesn’t show human qualities.
Rather than communicating in a way that is strictly business, strictly professional, with no room for conversation, communicate with passion and personality.
Communicate in a way that you want your employees to behave on a daily basis. If you show yourself to be inspired, honest, and hard-working, your employees are much more likely to emulate that.
SPEAK WITH THANKFULNESS
Whether it’s in good times, or bad times, let your employees know that they’re the foundation of your culture.
Reinstating how much you appreciate their efforts will reinstate in their minds that they’re important. And when people feel important, they feel a sense of belonging and inspiration to keep working for a leader and a company that they’re an integral part of.
Whether it’s just thanking them in advance, or personally praising them for their good work, employees will feel a much stronger sense of motivation and purpose.
In fact, only 39% of employees don’t feel appreciated at work (Office Vibe) … don’t let your employees become part of that statistic.
SHOW COMPASSION
In stressful situations, it’s easy to show negative emotions like anger and irritability – but this is not the best way to get through to your team. Research shows that people want leaders with a calm demeanour and positive outlook, otherwise trust and confidence are lost (APA).
Why? Because it shows you understand them. You understand that oftentimes, hardship isn’t due to lack of effort, it could be due to:
A tough market
Lack of resources
Lack of training
And instead of turning straight to anger, building them up and asking them if they need any support, will not only encourage them but equip them with what they need to get through it.
LISTEN
Listening is just as important, if not more important, than speaking.
Communication works both ways and just because you’re the leader, doesn’t mean others don’t have meaningful suggestions. Allowing your employees to contribute to certain decisions is key. I talked about this more in a previous blog, where I said:
“Employees aren’t just workers. They’re team members, they’re creative minds, and when treasured right, they’re truly committed to seeing your goals come to life. Create an environment where employees feel comfortable to express their ideas, get their creative juices flowing, and feel truly passionate about your company.”
Listening will benefit you just as much as it will benefit them. So be open-minded.
It’s also important to listen to employee’s feelings, struggles, and concerns – whether it’s work-related or not. Building that trust and creating a safe space where people feel comfortable to come to you will improve productivity greatly (50% to be precise – Haiilo)
- Written by Oliver Howson
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