MASTERING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR MIDDLE-MANAGEMENT LEADERS

June 10th, 2023

I know what you’re probably thinking

”Not another lesson about how to communicate effectively as a leader.”

Most people probably saw this title and swiped past it faster than leaving the office at 5 PM.

So if you made it here, congratulations.

You will be one of the very small percentages of people who actually learn what effective communication actually looks like and more importantly what it doesn’t look like.

And how to get there.

I’m not promising you a tip or a trick, those don’t last.

What I am promising you in this guide is an informational and actionable guide to one of the core fundamentals of leadership.

You will be a better communicator after reading this guide, and that possibility is purely based on how you apply this advice.

What is it?

Here’s where a lot of leaders go wrong when it comes to making a change.

• They don’t identify the problem.

• They don’t know what it is they want to do better.

• They don’t know what it looks like in action.

So let’s start here. What is effective communication actually?

”Effective communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose. When the communication is effective, both the sender and receiver feel satisfied.”

What communication doesn’t look like.

It’s important to understand what is blocking you from getting your teams to communicate effectively so you can call it out and nip it in the bud.

Effective communication is not..

1. Solely about talking

2. One-size-fits-all

3. Just about words

4. One-time event

5. Dominating the conversation

6. Just transmitting information

7. Without challenges

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but from my 16+ years of leadership, these are the ones that I’ve found to be most hindering to a team's success when it comes to communication.

Number 7 is a big one. Understand that with improved and even excellent communication, there will still be challenges.

The honest truth is, we’ve all fallen short of perfect communication, and that shouldn’t be our goal anyway.

We’re all human.

Ditch that belief.

If you’re going to really master communication, here’s a few things you need to understand.

1. Different personalities require different approaches

2. Communication needs change with the seasons

3. What worked then may not work now

4. Communication is the beginning and end of all things.

The advice that I am going to give you is not an end all be all. It’s a starting point.

An entryway to open the door to communication. Mastering of the fundamentals.

5 ways to Super Charge Your Communication

1. Start with an open door

One of the best ways to establish effective communication is by having an open-door policy.

Feels like something that gets thrown around a lot these days.

”My door is open to you at all times”

And here are the most common problems with open-door policies:

• There’s a lack of follow-through

• Fear of repercussions from what is discussed

• Potential for misinterpretation

• Perceptions of favoritism

Communication is a two-way street. You can’t wait for people to come to you. It must be both ways.

Follow this advice when it comes to an open-door policy:

1. Be an example of proactive communication.

2. Clearly communicate the purpose and expectations to everyone at the same time.

3. Follow through with the discussions, and check in regularly.

4. Ensure equal access, if you notice someone isn’t taking advantage of it. Check on them.

5. Create a safe non-retaliatory environment.

This is just one critical step of effective communication, but one of the most important.

2. Purposeful Communication

To foster effective communication as middle-management leaders, it is crucial to strive for purposeful communication that drives meaningful conversations.

Not that there’s anything wrong with small talk, but there are so many conversations that simply don’t move the needle because there is no clarity behind them.

Here are some actionable tips:

1. Set clear intentions Help them understand the purpose behind their communication, whether it's providing guidance, seeking feedback, or addressing concerns. Clear intentions guide the conversation and enhance its effectiveness.

2. Understand the audience Emphasize the importance of understanding the audience when communicating. Managers should consider the individual backgrounds, roles, and perspectives of their team members.

3. Define Desired outcomes Identify the desired outcomes of their communication. What do you hope to achieve or convey through the conversation?

4. Involve relevant individuals Determine whether others should be included in the conversation. In certain situations, involving additional team members or stakeholders can provide valuable insights or facilitate collaboration.

5. Practical advice Provide leaders with practical advice to facilitate purposeful communication. Encourage active listening, asking open-ended questions, and giving constructive feedback.

3. Addressing the trust gap

When it comes to trust, there are only a few things that matter.

Consistency, intentionality, and leading by example.

These qualities may be inherited by some, but that’s not enough, they have to be learned and practiced.

What’s more important is addressing the trust gap. The honest truth is that you may have inherited a team that struggles to trust because they had a bad leader.

1. Take inventory of where the trust lies with your team.

2. Be open and ask your team what they need.

3. Agree on the action steps.

4. Follow through.

4. Establishing regular one-on-one meetings

Where a lot of leaders go wrong with having one on one meetings is that they tend to come out of the blue and are on the heels of when a team member did something wrong.

That couldn’t be a worse way to go about it.

Establishing regular one-on-ones mitigates all of that

Here’s how to approach it:

1. Set the expectation.

2. Create a weekly agenda that you collaborate on.

3. Start off by letting them talk.

4. Hear them out by affirming their emotions.

5. Set tangible action items.

5. Enlighten your team on the bigger picture

People support what they create.

Including your team in the process is a powerful way for them to believe in the larger mission. People need to know why they are doing what they are doing and they need to be connected to that.

They need to see their role in that, too.

Here are 3 simple ways to bring the bigger picture within your team's vision:

1. Share the vision of the team/company consistently.

2. Reiterate constantly.

3. Ask for feedback & apply it where necessary.

Summary:

In summary, effective communication requires understanding and action.

Identify the problem, know what effective communication looks like, and take steps to address it.

So get started, do the following:

1. Start with an open door.

2. Purposeful communication.

3. Addressing the trust gap.

4. Establish regular one-on-one meetings.

5. Enlighten your team on the bigger picture.

That’s all for my guide on supercharging your communication as a middle manager.

Thanks for reading.

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