Leadership Communication: 3 Best Practices

Always, but especially during times of change and ambiguity, leaders must balance the needs of their people while meeting business priorities. Effective leadership communication accomplishes both.

Follow these three best practices to reach your team more effectively:

• Know Your Audience
  

  You already know your team. But do your communications reach them? Consider different mindsets and perceptions when developing your message, no matter how big or small. Use the “think, feel, do” approach — what do I need my team to know? How do I want them to feel about it? What do I want them to do after I’ve communicated it to them?

• Develop Your Plan
  

  A strong leadership communication strategy considers objectives, context, audience, timing, and channels. These help you craft the right message and — when executed well — ensure your communications are accepted, understood, and acted upon.

• Communicate with Authenticity
  

  Be human. Communication is most effective when those on the receiving end “see” you — let your personality and values show up in your words. When you show up with authenticity, you create deeper trust with your team.

Want to know more about each of these three tips? Download our Effective Communication Planning Guide for Leaders.