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Improve Your Communication as a Manager

Powerful communication may not come naturally or easily, but as a manager, it’s a must. From constructive feedback, project leadership, employee recognition, and grievance management, a manager’s communication has to do a lot of tactful, influential work. Fortunately it can be practiced—and it should be! But first, what happens when your communication isn’t so great?

When you don’t communicate effectively as a manager, confusion happens at all levels of the organization. What if you were giving a broad, friendly smile as you were firing someone? Weak communication can leave your employees unclear about your expectations of their performance, projects, or goals. Projects can derail because they are not being overseen or steered. In turn, client and company needs can go unmet. As a manager, you must communicate effectively, or else your reputation—and everyone else’s around you—will suffer.

To communicate effectively as a manager:

Keep calm. Breathe, relax, and listen. Stay focused on the situation at hand, sticking to facts where you’re able. When it comes to more personal or emotionally charged discussions, keep a clear head but remember that it’s OK and encouraged to be compassionate. Just keep your emotions in control, and be ready to put a pin in the conversation if they start to slip away from you.
Think before you speak. Plan out your talking points before you come to the table. Consider every word before you unleash it on the world, because after a word has crossed your lips, you can’t take it back.
Speak clearly and to the point. Is all the backstory really necessary? In most cases, it’s better to jump right in than to deliver 20 minutes of side info that will send people daydreaming. Stay on track and stick to the essentials, but be open to questions and clarification.
Stay positive. Life looks better from the high road, and you will never regret leading with grace and dignity. So avoid negativity for negativity’s sake and shaming, blaming, or badmouthing others. Keeping things on the up-and-up will paint you in a more positive light and will keep your team motivated and focused on the good.

When it comes to effective manager communication, this is just the beginning. But it’s a great starting point to learn and grow as a leader!

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