Common Communication Pitfalls a Leader Must Avoid

Every leader recognises the importance of communication. We've all read numerous studies and sat through more seminars than we can count. Despite this, we frequently slip into several basic communication pitfalls that can severely undermine our leadership. This is particularly true in times of crisis and instability. When changes are happening quickly, and there is uncertainty in the air, we can make communication mistakes.

Here are a few unintentional mistakes that leaders make:

Saying or writing something only once.

Leaders can easily forget what it's like to be on the receiving end of a communication. We often forget how many times we had to hear something before we could process it. We fail to remember that the team does not have the same information at our disposal. We don't realise that, unlike us, they haven't been thinking and analysing this for days, weeks, or even months. As a result, we believe that a fast mention, a single announcement, or an email will be enough to convey our message. But it isn't.

If you want your message to stick, especially during times of high stress, you must say it repeatedly. Be patient and do not become frustrated if you must repeat yourself. When someone doesn't "get it" the first time, don't think they're ignoring you or being irresponsible. Most of us require repetition for information to sink in. We need to listen to the message over and over. In fact, you're possibly just getting started when you're sick of saying it.

Waiting until receiving all the answers before communicating.

One of the most challenging aspects of communication is deciding what to say while we are in the land of the unknown. It has been especially difficult during the COVID crisis. There is a lot we don't know and a lot of questions we can't answer. It is quite tempting to remain silent until we have all of the answers.

It is admirable to want to be fully informed before speaking. We don't want to mislead people, offer them false hope, or cause unnecessary stress. As a result, we remain silent. Unfortunately, this has the opposite effect of what we are attempting to avoid.

When people don't hear from their leaders, they make up their own stories. And the fiction they make up in their heads is almost certainly going to be much worse than reality. It is usually better to communicate, even though you don't have all the facts than it is to remain silent and let gossip, speculation, and dread to fill the void.

It's worth noting that, while it may be tempting to soften or minimise uncomfortable truths in order to reduce their burden, it is not what we are advocating. That may temporarily calm people down, but it will ultimately ruin your credibility. This is not the moment to act on impulse. Instead, take the time to properly consider your message before delivering it to your staff. Communication that is thoughtful, careful, and honest is always preferable to silence.

Believing that communication is only about the information.

It's easy to become buried in the information we're trying to express when we communicate. While that information is crucial, there's something else at work here.

As previously stated, when we fail to communicate, our staff is forced to create their own stories. This usually causes stress and uncertainty. Our staff cannot perform at their best in that environment. They are preoccupied with what might happen. Information alone will not always fill that void.

When we share information, our staff listen with the mindset of "what does this mean to me?" So don't leave them to their own devices. Make it a point to tie the decision or information to the "why," not just the "what." Assist them in understanding how this knowledge relates to your vision and how it affects them personally.

This form of communication fills the gaps and gives your staff a sense of security and safety. People are more creative, capable of problem-solving, and productive when they feel safe. Tensions are lowered, and teamwork is improved.

Review your communication during the last few months. Communication is too crucial to leave to chance. Have you ever made any of these errors? What's got you puzzled? Where have you had success? How are you going to improve?

Our capacity to communicate effectively makes or breaks our leadership. Nobody is perfect all of the time. Even the greatest leaders fall into these pitfalls from time to time. Our skill and awareness to notice and correct these blunders are what distinguishes us as great leaders. That is something that we can all do.

Source: Advanced Time