The Importance of Communicating as a Leader

You could have the world’s best internal communications strategy, but if your managers lack effective communication skills, your hard work is likely going to waste.  

In our latest blog, we’re breaking down what it takes to communicate well as a leader to spotlight skills gaps in your business and help you take practical steps right now to bridge them.

Leaders need to understand they’re dealing with human beings

It sounds obvious but often isn’t. Breaking down hierarchical structures and seeing your employees as human beings rather than human resources is the first step to successful communication. 

Being truthful, do your leaders treat their teams like adults, connect with them personally, and communicate accordingly?  

If not, it’s time they shifted their perspective and learned how to relate to everyone – from shop floor to boardroom – on a human-to-human level through empathetic and impactful communication. 

Successful leaders are authentic communicators

The best leaders are authentic communicators with a deep understanding of themselves and their employees. 

Communicating authentically means recognising that not everyone needs to communicate exactly the same way. It’s about understanding different personality types and working to your strengths.  

For example, an authentic communicator with extroverted characteristics may be a charismatic public speaker who captivates a large audience, motivating and inspiring them. Meanwhile, an authentic communicator with introverted tendencies may excel at coaching people one-on-one, spotting their strengths and drawing out their potential. 

Neither of these communicative methods is better or worse; it’s about your leaders capitalising on their qualities and strengths.  

Do your leaders know themselves well enough to communicate with authenticity and purpose to get the most from their teams? 

Great leaders bring out the best in everyone 

Outstanding leadership is about creating an environment where everyone can be their best.  

To accomplish this, your leadership team must believe in the potential of their employees and recognise how to communicate with them to inspire individuals in different ways that reflect varying personality types. 

Is this something that’s currently lacking in your organisation? 

Every leader has something to learn

Whatever level you operate at or how many decades’ experience you boast, you always have something new to learn. 

After all, you don’t know what you don’t know, and you can’t be sure your employees perceive you in the way you intend to present yourself. 

The Dunning-Kruger effect refers to a cognitive bias that sees people overestimate their knowledge or capabilities in a certain area, and it often shows up in the workplace. 

Many people find themselves promoted into leadership positions based on technical abilities rather than people skills and overcompensate to mask a lack of understanding or training. 

Or, they’ve been in a position for so long that they feel there’s nothing left to learn.  

Engaging leaders maintain a sense of humility and an appetite for continual development and progression – and improving how to talk and listen to people around you is a great place to start. 

With communication being the key to every successful relationship, this is an opportunity for your leaders to develop critical skills that will benefit all areas of their professional life. 

How to improve your leaders’ communication skills

If any of the issues shared in this blog are showing up in your organisation, Communication Bootcamp is for you.  

Click here to discover more about Communication Bootcamp.

An interactive, in-person training programme suitable for all leaders - from first-line managers up to director level - it puts your people through their paces to transform the way they communicate and engage with their teams. 

After all, strong employee engagement is the backbone of better productivity, profitability, attendance, retention, and morale.  

Communication Bootcamp is customised around your organisation, working through a series of modules in the form of group sessions, 1:1 coaching, home learning, and wraparound support to empower leaders at all levels, from the first line up to the exec, to lead with confidence and purpose.  

Are you ready to give your leaders the practical tools and insightful knowledge to make your communication strategy soar?  

Speak to Enthuse today about signing up for Communication Bootcamp. Contact Andrea on 07812 343310 or hello@enthuse-comms.co.uk