In today’s digitally connected world, communication is at our fingertips 24/7. How much of that communication is valuable, and how much communication is too much?
I’ve spent a good deal of my life teaching, learning, examining, figuring out, and screwing up communication. That’s normal! In fact, I believe that communication is the most challenging part of leading and managing people.
When it comes to communicating well with those I manage, my first step is to determine the frequency of communication. Every person is different, and how often they need to meet is determined by their preference and experience level.
I’m a hands-off kind of manager, yet one of my employees needs frequent communication. I’m talking about twice a day, before and after our workday! While that seemed excessive in the beginning, I was willing to do it because I knew it’s what she needed to be successful. What I didn’t realize was how much value that practice would provide for both of us. Our meetings are about ten minutes long and they give us both peace of mind that we are aligned on priorities. Ten minutes of my time is a small price to pay for that on a daily basis.
Do you have the right cadence with those who report to you? Use the questions below to have more effective conversations with your team:
- What do you need to be successful?
- What are your expectations for our communication frequency?
- What would make for a great relationship between us?
- Who is the best manager or leader you’ve ever worked with and for, and what made them so good? How did you communicate together?
When you identify the communication cadence your team members need, your business and culture thrive. Find more communication tips – from giving effective feedback to writing provocative emails people will actually read – in our online Communication Catalyzer course. Don’t wait, your team will improve because you did.
Categories: Sue's Daily Blog
