Keep Your Best Employees by Being a Better Communicator

It’s up to you to inspire, motivate and lead. To do that, you need to be an excellent communicator. But what if you’re more of a visionary and less of a talker? How can you improve your skills in this area so you can retain the best people on your team? Here are some tips:

Listen more.


Being a good communicator is as much about listening as it is about talking. If you don’t know what’s on the minds of your staff members, then you’re not going to be able to address their concerns and challenges.

Stay in touch.


Don’t be the kind of boss who remains behind closed doors each day. Instead, check in regularly with your people. For instance, schedule weekly touchpoints and ask about issues they’re facing on the job. This not only gives them a sense that you truly care about their satisfaction at work, but that you value their insight and feedback too.

Be mindful of the mediums you’re using.


When you’re communicating, use the mediums that make the most sense for your team. For instance, if you have telecommuters, then conduct regular video conferences. Or, if you have employees who fall into many different age ranges, connect with them in the way they’re most comfortable with.

Communicate often.


There’s nothing worse than being left in the dark, especially if there are big changes or important decisions going on at your company. So strive to communicate openly and often. Employees want transparency, which actually builds trust and loyalty. What they don’t want is to be blindsided by bad news at the last minute.

Pay attention to your body language.


It’s not only important to think about what you say, but how you say it. When you’re talking to your staff, try to assess your body language and the message it’s communicating. If, for instance, you’re sitting in a meeting with your arms crossed tightly over your chest, it can come across as a barrier between you and your team.

Show your interest.


You have a diverse mix of employees motivated by different factors. That’s why it’s important to spend time with each and aim to get to know them on a more personal level. When you do, you’ll find out about challenges they’re facing that can impact workplace productivity. Likewise, you’ll have a better sense of what drives them internally. Finally, they’ll feel more comfortable and confident coming to you with areas of concern or to discuss career goals.

Need more help improving your leadership communication skills?


Turn to the management coaching specialists at ResumeSpice. We’ll not only work with you to boost your communication skills, but also help you gain more self-awareness, clarify goals, and ultimately unlock your potential as a leader. Call us today at 832.930.7378 to learn more or get started.