Is it a surprise that frontline managers rate having difficult conversations with their teams as a top challenge?
That’s what accounting firm Clark Schaefer Hackett found in an article exploring the important role frontline leaders play in business success.
‘Important’ is perhaps an understatement considering that frontline managers supervise a whopping 80% of employees in a typical organization; and represent 50-60% of a company’s leadership – again according to Clark Schaefer Hackett. However, most of them (90%) say they felt unprepared to move up to a leadership role.
Characteristics that are often used to define a great leader tend to be someone with strong business acumen, company loyalty, a dedicated grind, and strong communication skills. An exemplary leader constantly interacts with their teams and builds personal connections. This not only helps with efficiency but also employee dedication, loyalty to the company, and mutual respect.
As outlined by Actionable Conversations, a platform focused on studying business learning challenges, there are eight conversations that leaders need to have with their teams on a regular basis. These include setting goals and priorities, solving problems and brainstorming, progress updates, guidance on projects, celebrating wins, personal stories and touchpoints, and small talk. Keep in mind that people often love or leave a job because of their leader. So, when leaders connect and engage frequently with their teams this helps to build culture and committed relationships.
But how can leaders lead these conversations if they’ve never been trained on having them?
Without effectively communicating goals, expectations, direction, and processes, a leader’s ability is questioned.
Being a successful communicator is perhaps one of the strongest virtues that leaders can possess.
Here are some more tips on how to improve communication skills with your employees:
1) Keep it Simple
When delivering a message, leaders should keep their language simple, direct and on topic. Including unnecessary jargon and going off on irrelevant tangents will just lose and confuse the audience.
2) Body Language
Maintaining eye contact and a relaxed posture, smiling, and nodding, and keeping calm are all positive body language techniques that should be used when communicating. These mannerisms show the recipient respect and establish a connection. According to UCLE Psychology Professor Albert Mehrabian, 55% of the message is actually communicated through your body language and 38% is through tone.
3) Be upfront
Leaders should strive to have direct conversations no matter how difficult the topic may be. Finesse the language to ensure it’s appropriate and firm. Glossing things over will cause misunderstandings and repeated mistakes. Honest communication results in better teamwork, appreciation, and efficiency.
4) Encourage feedback
Allowing employees to provide feedback, ask questions and share comments shows that a leader is being receptive. This is important because employees need to feel like they are also being heard – not just talked at. Leaders should encourage and promote an open environment where the dialogue goes both ways.
5) Listen
Listening is a very big component of communication. It shows employees that they are valued and understood. Leaders should really focus on what their employees are saying, ask questions for more clarity and avoid interrupting or chiming in with solutions.
And since we’re on the topic of listening, while it’s important to effectively convey goals and expectations, it’s just as important to listen to peers and employees. Listening is an integral facet included under the communication and interaction umbrella. Most of the time, leaders – and people in general – want to chime in with advice or a solution. However, just listening can be a lot more beneficial. Maintain eye contact; minimize internal and external distractions; keep an open mind; and refrain from interrupting. These listening tactics can help leaders focus, gather all the facts, and see the bigger picture. And it makes employees feel like they matter and that their concerns are being taken seriously.
Dr. Ralph Nichols, founder, and developer of the ‘field of listening’ at the University of Minnesota, said that “the most basic of human needs is the need to understand and be understood.”
And that’s what we’re all striving for – leader or not. So, focus on what matters most. Look for ways to be a more engaged communicator, build trust, and create a more cohesive and effective working environment. Your employees will thank you for it. And show you their appreciation through their work.
