When I work with clients to debrief their leadership assessments, 9 times out of 10 they identify communication as one of the competencies that they most need to improve as professionals. And as important as they acknowledge communication to be, when they’re in the heat of the battle at work, they admit it’s one of the first competencies they neglect putting into practice as leaders. They’ll say, “We don’t have time for communication—we have to concentrate on executing.”
What they’re forgetting is that poor communication is where most things fall down. As a leader, you can have the most inspiring vision, but if you don’t communicate it effectively and constantly, you won’t realize that vision. You can be in the middle of the most productive change initiative that’ll turn your organization around, but if you don’t establish the right communication channels with the people you lead, the change will fail.
This Business2Community.com article talks about internal company communication practices critical to success, but those same practices apply at the level of a small business or even a team that you may be leading. The article focuses on transparency, technology, scheduled check-ins, and communication training for everyone—not just the leader.
This week, give some thought to your internal communication at work. Are you focusing on it as much as you should? What areas of your communication do you need to shore up to help create the work culture and the success that you envision?
Guillermo Villar is principal coach with Cambio Coaching. He helps high-achieving individuals and teams communicate with intention to get the business results they want.