Communication is Key: Common Problems That Negatively Impact Your Leadership

Leadership communication is an extremely important and effective skill that all business leaders need to have. Failing to practice good communication can harm your business, the workplace dynamic, and most importantly, the employees who work tirelessly to keep the company on the path of success. A leader’s ability to communicate with team members will determine how well the organization will thrive in the coming years.

Maximize your leadership by avoiding these common communication problems:

● Failing to Set Expectations: As a leader, your expectations of your employees must always be communicated and set from the very start. Failing to do so will only cause more confusion and frustration across all parties, which will continue to impact your role as a leader negatively.

● Only Practicing One-Way Communication: How much can one really accomplish with one-way communication? A good leader not only speaks with purpose but also listens to what his team members have to say as well — showing that their ideas and feedback are important to you. Two-way communication is key, and as a leader, it’s your job to ensure that you’re encouraging multi-way communication throughout the office.

● Not Defining Proper Communication Channels: It’s very common for businesses to utilize various platforms for communication purposes; however, it’s important to define each one and what they are intended for. For example, if your company implements communication platforms like Slack or G-Chat, it’s important to set guidelines on use. Are these platforms the best way to get in touch with another employee? Should you only be using them to share quick notes or questions? How does it compare to email? These are all questions that should be properly defined if your company employs more than one communication channel.

Communication plays an integral role in how well a business functions. It’s critical for leaders to be successful and effective communicators so that they can set the example for team members and keep the company functioning smoothly and efficiently. Leadership and executive coaches can help instill these traits within leaders in all different industries.