Some managers I know are trapped in old communication approaches: tactical, complicated, top-down, one-way and one-time. “I speak, you listen.” Focused on informing people, not communicating with them. These approaches come with risks:
- Ineffective communication may empty your coffers
- The consequences of poor communication can ripple
- As the complexity of the 21st century workplace increases, misunderstandings jump
- Our brains are not wired for complexity
So, here’s what I recommend:They forget … their communication has one purpose: to get results.
- Ask more than you tell; listen more than you speak.
- Use two-way communication with everybody, including customers
- Break down communication barriers
- Use a wider range of communication approaches
- Tap informal, innovative communication channels
- Minimize complexity, build simplicity
Try this little trick: ask your stakeholders how they want you to communicate with them. They might even tell you. And everybody wins.