The Tribune

Communication is essential for good leadership. Effective communication and effective leadership are closely intertwined. Leaders need to be skilled communicators in countless relationships at the corporate level, in communities and groups and, sometimes, on a global level.

Today we explore some valuable insight provided by Small Business Trends on effective ways and forums for company leaders to communicate. There are benefits to using a multi-faceted approach to providing and sourcing information, and the wise leader maximises them all. Here are the tips:

1. Open Meetings

It is easier to communicate your passion and how you feel to your team via open meetings. In this kind of forum, they will not only hear what you are saying but also see and feel it. This approach still remains one of the best approaches to communicate effectively with a team.

2 Emails

In official settings, communication via e-mail remains potent. It will enable you to pass messages to members of your team without pulling them out of their work stations.

3 One-on-one

Experts have been able to prove that some people understand better when you take them aside and talk to them on a one-on-one basis. Ensure that you maintain eye contact with them to enable the message to sink in.

4 Create a Receptive Atmosphere

To effectively communicate with your team, you must create a receptive atmosphere. Avoid a tense environment at all costs because when you communicate in an overly intense manner, the message you are trying to share might not be well understood or retained.

5 Communication via Training

Your training should be tailored towards communicating certain information to your team members. Most employees take training seriously, especially when it is part of their appraisal.

6 Display confidence and seriousness

Ensure that you display confidence and seriousness so you will not be taken for granted. When your team members notice any uncertainty and lack of serious intent when you are communicating with them, they are likely to treat the information with disdain or disregard.

7 Use simple words

The truth is that everybody cannot be on the same page when it comes to vocabulary. Therefore, to be effective in communications with your team members, use words that can be easily understood. When ambiguous words are used, you can be misunderstood and/or waste precious time having to explain yourself.

8 Use Visuals

Place visuals at strategic positions around the work stations of your team. They should not just hear the message, they should also see it. This gives room for better comprehension. Some people grasp messages easily when pictures and sounds are involved. Using presentations like Microsoft PowerPoint to communicate with your team will give them the opportunity to refer back to it if they aren’t clear about certain things.

9 Listen to your team members

Communication is intended to be a two-way street. Do not just talk because you are the leader without listening to anyone else. Encourage them to open up so you can be well guided when communicating in the future. You have two ears and one mouth, so you must listen more than you speak.

10 Use appropriate body language

Your body language will pass your message faster and better. Master the art of using body language when communicating with your team. Stand and/or sit up straight, use smiles, handshakes and eye contact.

11 Use the appropriate tone of voice

One word can mean a different thing when said in a particular tone of voice. Make sure you use the appropriate tone of voice to communicate your message to your team so that you will not be misunderstood and discourage or de-motivate members, causing them to shut down completely out of fear.

12 Avoid unnecessary repetition

If you want your team members to take you seriously, never sound like a broken record and do not beat a dead horse. Tell your team members what you want them to know or do, and ask them if they are clear about it. If they are not, only then do you repeat what you have said.

13 Be humorous

Using friendly jokes when communicating with your team members will help pass your message along in a more relaxed way. This method of communication has been proven to be a highly effective way of defusing tension. When the atmosphere is unfriendly and intense, being humorous does the trick. If you must use jokes, do not overdo it. Remember, you are not a stand-up comedian.

14 Be articulate

Communication is indeed a skill that must be learned by all, especially if you want to lead any group of people. Being articulate when you communicate to your team members makes it easier for them to understand your message. Your team members should be able to hear you clearly. When communicating with them, try as much as possible to speak clearly and not mumble words.

15 Encourage feedback

Do not just talk and walk away. Give room for feedback so that you can measure the effectiveness of your style of communication. It will also afford you the privilege of knowing if your message was well understood.

16 Gesticulate

Use your hands to demonstrate your message. Make hand motions and signals to establish the seriousness of your subject matter when communicating with your team members. This shows that you understand what you are trying to relay to them. Do not let your body movement become too exaggerated and intense.

17 Be Appreciative

After every communication session, via whatever means you have decided, always remember to thank your listeners for their time. It will cost you nothing and it is a simple courtesy.

Remember that the point of working as a team is to share ideas and boost productivity. When effective communication in the workplace is hampered, it can sidetrack the entire effort.

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at iferguson@bahamas.com