How to Improve Communication With Your Staff

No More Disconnection: How to Improve Communication With Your Staff

Communication is the real work of leadership.

Managers may want to reflect on this quote from Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria since a Robert Half Management Resources survey of Canadian workers found that many business leaders do, indeed, have some real work to do when it comes to communication.

At least, a good percentage of their staff likely think that is the case. More than one-third (35 per cent) of workers in our survey said communication and diplomacy are the areas where managers need to improve most.

The repercussions of poor communication between managers and employees can manifest in many ways — from retention issues to lack of innovation.

“At the executive level, successful leadership is often measured by strong communication skills, capable of engaging workers regardless of the business environment,” said David King, Canadian president of Robert Half Management Resources. “To inspire their staff, managers must be able to clearly articulate company goals, and ensure each employee understands how their work contributes to the success of the business.”

Which workers seek better communication?

Here’s another finding from the survey that managers should take note of: Thirty-eight per cent of workers between the ages of 35 and 54, and 34% per cent of workers between 18 and 34, said that managers need to improve their communication and diplomacy skills. Meanwhile, only 24% of respondents in the 55+ age group replied that managers need to improve their communication skills. This may indicate several things:

  • Many professionals in this age group are working at the management level, and do not think they need to improve their interpersonal skills.
  • Managers are not reaching out effectively to veteran staff members because they (wrongly) assume these workers already “have the memo” on everything pertinent that’s happening at the firm and also don’t require a lot of feedback on their performance.
  • It’s a demographic issue: As more Generation X and millennial professionals assume leadership roles in their organizations, many may be overlooking the importance of building strong work relationships with their baby boomer colleagues. (Note: A separate survey by Robert Half Management Resources found CFOs see communication skills as the area where there are the greatest differences among generations in the workplace.)
  • All the above.

It’s important to communicate well with all staff members, of course. But our research indicates that business leaders may need to apply special attention to eliminating any disconnect they may have with the youngest millennials and the more seasoned employees on their team.

Addressing this issue is important to the long-term health of the business: Millennials represent the largest demographic group in today’s workforce — and retaining them can be challenging for employers. And baby boomer employees, who lend a wealth of hard-to-replace knowledge and experience to businesses, are retiring in greater numbers or pursuing encore careers. If professionals in either group feel that they aren’t receiving enough feedback from, or don’t have a good rapport with, their managers, they may be inclined to leave their current work situation sooner than later.

At the same time, don’t forget about Generation X. Research from our company found professionals 35-54 are the least likely to see how their work contributes to the company’s bottom line. Managers who don’t make this connection for staff risk alienating them and making it harder for employees to focus on the greatest priorities for the business.

Adopting a customized approach to staff communication

The path to achieving better communication with all employees is, of course, learning how to communicate better as a manager. However, in practice, this isn’t so simple. The real key to improvement is applying a customized approach. That takes work, but it can be well worth it in terms of generating positive benefits for the business. Leaders must be able to tailor their communication style to the individual and recognize what motivates each team member.

Following are some strategies managers can use to assess and improve their communication skills:

1. Seek candid feedback

Ask your manager, peers and employees to give you the straight scoop on your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator. In the process, ask them to share their communication preferences with you. You may learn, for example, that one of your millennial employees would prefer more face time with you. Meanwhile, your manager may like to communicate primarily through email, unless an urgent or sensitive matter arises.

Remember, not everyone will be comfortable providing candid feedback — especially if they report to you — so consider gathering anonymous input, too.

2. Learn from a communication maestro

No doubt you know someone in the organization, or in your professional network, who is an outstanding communicator. Observe how that person interacts with others, especially the employees they manage. Then, apply some of his or her winning techniques to your own communication.

3. Be an active listener

Communication is a two-way street. So, part of your work toward improving your communication abilities should be learning how to be a good listener. It’s important to get your points across clearly, but don’t worry so much about delivering your own messages that you don’t hear what employees or other colleagues are trying to communicate to you.

4. Be honest and relatable

Sometimes, people work so hard to be a good manager that they forget about being an individual. The more you demonstrate that you are human — and imperfect, just like everyone else — the more your staff will view you as approachable.

Over time, simply being a person your employees can relate to can go a long way toward building open and strong lines of communication with all your staff.

 

Related Articles