In the workplace, the allocation of the leaders time on communication shapes the environment and impacts morale and workflow.
Here are seven tips to consider so you will allocate your time spent on communication more effectively.
#1- Spend less time communicating up
Many leaders make the mistake of keeping their bosses well-informed while neglecting to communicate adequately with others. Keeping your bosses happy should not be your primary short-term focus. In fact, it's a strategy that will limit your long-term success. Put your boss on a need-to-know basis.
#2- Spend more time communicating to your direct reports
Increase the frequency of your communication with the people who report to you. Repeat key messages more often and open up the conversation to be more transparent. Add development conversations and feedback for people building. Allocating your time in this way will pay off in the long run and will satisfy your bosses, too, more than merely keeping them posted will.
#3- Increase the quality and quantity of cross-functional collaborations
Communicate more with your peers throughout the organization. Build bridges. Look for ways to increase your own business acumen. Discuss shared concerns and celebrate mutual successes together.
This is time well spent because it broadens the scope of your influence and will make you far more effective in higher level and more strategic work.
#4- Spend less time talking I and more time talking we and you
You're wasting your time as long as you're talking about yourself. Focus instead on those conversations that are directed to the team and are about the team. Similarly, allocate more time to conversations about others and ways they can contribute at higher levels and continually develop.
#5- Spend more time asking questions and less time giving answers
Questions are a leader's best tool for gathering information, broadening their own scope and engaging others in meaningful ways. Asking questions gives you the opportunity to engage others' ability to solve problems so you don't have to give all the answers. Asking questions enables you to challenge members of your team so they can stretch to new heights.
Time spent asking questions is time you will not have to spend giving the same answer over and over again.
#6- Spend more time soliciting others' ideas
You will ennoble and empower others when you take the time to seek out insights they may have when you tap into their expertise and experience. You don't have all the answers, and pretending that you do is a certain time waster.
#7- Put more time into positive feedback than negative feedback
Set a goal for yourself to give three positive feedbacks for every one negative feedback. In other words, praise and recognize three times more frequently then you criticize or constructively redirect others.
Be sure to allocate enough time that your feedback is not shallow. Praising generically is no better than zero recognition. Make all of your feedback specific and timely. Take the time to observe so you can do this.
Allocating your time as a leader means that your communication will serve you and your team better. It means your communication will advance everyone toward their goals. It also means you won't be wasting time on negative or unproductive communication. As a leader, setting this example can make a world of difference for your team.
This blog post is part of the CONNECT! Community's July focus on connecting in the workplace. As a leader, connecting horizontally, vertically and diagonally throughout your organization will help you to be more effective and CONNECT2Lead. Subscribe to our weekly CONNECT2Lead Newsletter for special offers, content, and blog posts. To God be the glory!
