Business would suffer if it weren’t for effective communication. Effective communications come in many forms. Whether it’s verbal communication, body language, digital communication, written communication or any of the other myriad of ways that humans communicate, we need to be able to communicate with one another to get anything done. But without effective communication strategies for strengthening your leadership communication skills, communication can quickly fall short. Projects, teams and close relationships can crumble. As a leader, it’s vital to take the time to learn and implement team building strategies that improve communication in your teams to  ensure long-term workplace success.

Team building strategies for strengthening effective leadership communication

Create a communication strategy.

While effective communication seems obvious, many businesses suffer because of poor communication strategies. Some fail. This means that unless you have a communication strategy in place, your business will falter. Communication strategies apply to  different business functions from team member communications to customer relations.  The best communication strategies are dialogues, so it’s important to remember that effective communication involves both sharing and listening. In the current “me” culture, the listening aspect is often overlooked, as individuals are more worried about their own response rather than what the other person is actually saying. To be effective as a business, build a communication strategy that focuses on sharing content, receiving feedback and making changes based on what others have to say.

Create a culture of empathy.

As one of the six TIGERS principles that build a collaborative work environment, empathy is one of the most necessary requirements for healthy communication, notes How To Promote Healthy Workplace Communication. Empathy is the ability to put yourself into others’ shoes and to respectfully relate to and understand differing points of view. This includes thoughts, experiences and emotions. Empathy is an important concept for the workplace because when team members are empathetic with one another, they are better able to work together to create solutions that work for everyone. The ability to understand diverse perspectives allows team members to respectfully resolve misunderstandings. Focusing on creating a culture of empathy also results in a culture of respect, safety and understanding, which are pillars for effective communication.

Implement digital communication strategies.

Face-to-face communication is vital for workplace success.  That’s a given.  But, leaders who do not also see the need for digital communication strategies are sure to fail in the long run. Younger generations have already embraced digital communication, sometimes as their primary sources for communication. As they enter the workforce in droves, younger generations expect to use these strategies in their professional lives, too. Digital communications allow employees to work with team members across time zones meaning that language barriers are no longer an issue. Digital communication platforms can pose challenges as well.  Different workforce generations approach digital communication platforms differently, so leaders must be intentional with the platforms they choose The expectations they place on their team members must also be clear and give instruction for how to use these tools for optimum success. With intentional digital strategies in place, digital communication can be an extremely successful form of communication that build relationships and further business goals.

Assume nothing.

One of the biggest pitfalls for effective communication is making assumptions. As a communicator, you may be extremely knowledgeable about a certain subject, so you may fall into one of two categories while sharing: oversharing or under-sharing. When you are very knowledgeable, you may go into unnecessary details that leave your listeners with glazed eyes, rather than answering the question that was actually posed. Or because you are an expert, you may skip over important details, assuming that others know what you are talking about. Both of these forms can be detrimental to effective communication, so it’s important that you make no assumptions when talking to others, and share and answer the questions that are actually asked. You should also give your listeners a chance to ask questions without making them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. By not assuming, you help to build an environment conducive to effective communication.

Communication strategies are vitally important for the success of a team, so it’s imperative that leaders take the time to develop their own communication techniques through team building strategies, such as the TIGERS on-demand leadership training. Leaders can also implement other team building strategies, including creating a communication strategy; creating a culture of empathy; implementing digital communication strategies; and making no assumptions when communicating with others.

Here are additional resources to enhance your learning:

• Communication Determines the Success of Your Business
• How To Promote Healthy Workplace Communication 
• Digital Communication In The Workplace Is No Longer Optional 
• 5 Surprising Reasons Your Communication Isn’t Getting Through 

Copyright TIGERS Success Series, Inc. by Claudia Craven