Communication is increasingly challenging in the complex world of leadership. This is especially true when an organization is growing, pursuing new initiatives, or navigating the rocky road of change or crises. In these moments, it’s easy to ignore communication because we’re so busy. But to ignore good communication is to sow seeds that produce a harvest of frustration and distrust later on. Why do you need a communication strategy? Here are seven reason.
- Clear Messaging –Without a communication strategy, everybody is left to make assumptions and interpret the silence on their own. The result is confusion and the eventual spread of wrong messages. There will be a message perceived—the question is whether or not you create it.
- Improved Teamwork –Teams obviously work better when everyone is on the same page. When communication increases, synergy and morale seem to naturally increase, too.
- Decreased Frustration –Good communication keeps people engaged and helps team members feel in the loop. The natural outcome is a decrease in frustration and unnecessary stress. Author Nelson Searcy observes that a good SYSTEM Saves You Stress, Time, Energy and Money. That’s certainly true of a communication system. When it’s in place, it reduces stress, maximizes time, requires less energy, and ultimately saves you money.
- Fewer Rumors –Poor communication inevitably leads to rumors, gossip, division, and distrust. When people don’t hear what you want them to hear, whispering begins in the hallways. That whispering is always one-sided. If you don’t communicate your side, everybody on your team will create their own, and thus, rumors begin.
- Greater Efficiency –Good communication makes things go faster and smoother. This is especially helpful when the organization experiences rapid change, an unexpected crisis, or launches a major new initiative. Again, a good communication system improves effectiveness and efficiency.
- Stronger Buy-In –People more readily buy-in to vision and new strategies when communication is strong. Without good communication, people are left to wonder who, what, when, where, and how. If their questions aren’t answered, they will never fully buy-in. It’s easy to forget the wrestling we went through on a personal level to come to a place of pursuing a new vision. When we don’t communicate clearly, we rob people of the answers to the questions they need in their own wrestling process.
- Better Service –Good communication has a layering effect. When the team is in the know, they can ensure the guest or member they serve is in the know. The result is better, more effective results.
So, how do you create a good communication strategy? Some of the most helpful tools I’ve used are weekly staff meetings, weekly oversight meetings with staff that report to me, weekly volunteer huddles, the right technology, and intentional repetitiveness.
