As it relates to doing business, we know that leadership is key. Here are 3 communication practices that every great leader needs. The first practice, and in my opinion, is the most important thing, is being consistent in everything. In group meetings, when talking to clients, when presenting to your team or group. Now, being consistent is not the same as being overwhelming. It’s like the old saying, “just a dab will do”. Make a habit of being consistent in the small things (which will relate to big things). When communication is reliable and consistent, team members feel secure. Leaders and peers who follow through on what they say and provide regular updates foster a sense of stability. Remember, if consistency builds up trust in a team, then inconsistency breaks trust. Doing things like making frequent changes without explanation or saying one thing and doing another creates confusion and erodes confidence in the communicator and will eventually lead to a lack of trust in the leader.  Keeping in mind the reason these inconsistencies rarely impact the leader as much as it does the team. This can appear as a lack of concern for the team.

The second practice is active listening. Active listening shows respect and validation. When team members feel heard, they are more likely to open up, collaborate, and stay engaged. It’s during this time that co-creation and innovation can take place. Now, the opposite of active listening is being dismissive, in the small and the big. In the small, it could be looking at your cell phone while talking to your team, interrupting, ignoring feedback, or minimizing concerns, can make people feel undervalued, leading to disengagement and mistrust.

The third practice is transparency; the ability to have open and honest communication, especially about challenges, decisions, and changes, fosters a sense of shared ownership and respect. If a leader is lacking in this practice, I can guarantee they are not being consistent. Trust can be easily broken by withholding relevant information or sugarcoating problems; these things will eventually lead to speculation, rumors, and a breakdown in team cohesion.

If a leader can demonstrate consistency, active listening, and transparency, then the impact on team trust and performance can be profound. It can lead to deep trust and psychological safety, which creates a sense of safety to speak up, share ideas, admit mistakes, and ask for help without fear of judgment or retaliation. It also creates an environment where innovation, collaboration, and learning thrive.

If you are interested in learning more about Organizational Culture or how we can help your team. Reach out to us at (651) 439-2878.