Businesses have lots of moving parts.

You may have sales, product design, purchasing, pricing, finance, administration, engineering, production, marketing, human resources, legal, IP, and the list goes on…

Communication between, across, above and below these departments or functions is critical to ensure the overarching mission is achieved.

There are many thoughts and opinions on the most effective communication methods and styles, however, that’s a discussion for another day…

Today I just wanted to touch on the concept of communication…

A common issue across organisations is a lack of communication between leaders and their staff and teams.

Leaders often assume their teams have implicit knowledge of what is going on, however daily operations and effectiveness show that this is not the case.

In the absence of clear communication, staff will inevitably make up their own version of reality, and in their defence, this is a logical and rational course of action to take.

The problem is, this version of reality is unlikely to align with what the business owner or leader specifically wants, or had intended.

The result is misalignment, frustration, and substandard performance across the business.

When a team or staff members don’t understand the mission or vision, the responsibility for this lies at the feet of the leader.

Communicate with your people often and clearly.

Check-in regularly to ensure they understand the mission.

Look for cues that indicate a lack of understanding or comprehension, and proactively intervene and realign what’s going on.

Be prepared to repeat yourself on occasions, or change your approach depending upon your audience.

Communication is an ongoing process that has no end. Relaying and communicating your ‘Leaders Intent’, will be a function requiring your attention until you are no longer a leader.

Don’t see it as a chore or wonder; “why don’t my people understand”; see it as an opportunity to engage with your team, help them to develop and achieve, and enjoy the journey.

Cheers, Garrick

Reach me at garrick@garrickjackson.com