Communication is More than a Two-Way Street
Managers, here’s a thought for the day, really communicate with your team. We have been duped by education. In business and certainly in life communication is more than a two-way street. 50/50 doesn’t work. There isn’t commitment. I believe at work the leader is 100% accountable. Performance issues, workplace conflicts and employee disengagement often are the result of poor communication. Oh, yeah, no time is not a legitimate excuse.
So today, really communicate with your team:
- Say hi to each person during the day sometime, and use their name
- Check in, How are YOU doing?
- Praise an employee’s progress
- Listen to an employee’s concern
- Encourage your team
- Validate an employee’s idea
- Facilitate an effective meeting that’s more a dialogue than a monologue
- Be available for a question
- Clarify a concern about priorities
- Share key information
- Have your team’s back
- Make time to discuss a problem
- Plan with your team
- Compliment an employee in front of a co-worker
- Take the time to coach
- Involve them in value-added training
- Celebrate a victory together
- Make a constructive decision on a request
- Deal with poor performance constructively but quickly
- Admit a mistake
- Give your team the credit for a win
- Express enthusiasm for your team and its mission
- Smile once in a while
- Have some fun
- Be positive not negative
While there are many other actions to take, you get the idea. Genuine communication like this creates respect and trust. It also builds positive working relationships and a higher performing team. However, it’s seems to be rare. Why not do these every day seamlessly in the midst of the whirlwind of work? This isn’t an assignment. These kinds of actions are more than management, it’s leadership.
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Or, do you want a proven game-plan for career success? If so, check out Doug and Rick’s Superstar Leadership book.
For team assistance, go here:
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- Call: 888-313-0514 or email Rick, rickconlow@gmail.com.
