“Communication is the real work of leadership.” This famous quote from former Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria applies perfectly to the business world today.
Given how much change and complexity modern leaders confront – particularly with the remote, hybrid, and fast-paced organizations everyone works in now – leaders need to prioritize great communication.
Unfortunately, because of everything else that’s on their plates, leaders often communicate poorly, leading to significantly bad outcomes for their organizations.
Lots of evidence points to the fact that it’s becoming more challenging than ever for leaders to have meaningful, two-way communication with employees.
A recent report by FlexOS found employees rating their managers at just seven out of 10 on effectively managing hybrid and remote teams. And 30% of employees said that they are frustrated by unclear communication from their bosses.
Writing in the Harvard Business Review, remote work researcher Gleb Tsipursky said that all of that poor communication is slowing down the progress of many teams.
“Communication is not just a soft skill; it’s the linchpin of effective management,” he wrote. “As a new manager, you have the opportunity to reset old ways and establish a more effective role as a communicator in this hybrid and remote landscape.”
When looking to improve situations that may have been exacerbated by a lack of communication, it’s helpful to identify the precise problem or barrier, take time to understand the root cause, and then consider what solutions may best be applied to improve poor communication skills and achieve your desired results.
The Importance of Effective Workplace Communication
Effective communication is a critical component of business success. Yet, for most leaders, this can be a significant blind spot that derails relationships, makes goals harder to achieve, limits advancement opportunities, and impedes overall business and personal success.
