Articles tagged "Communication in the Workplace"
Not Every Great Employee is A Good Fit
Hallelujah! After weeks, if not months, of diligent searching, resume and LinkedIn profile reviews, phone interviews, and then multi-stage in-person and team interviews, you’ve hired THE right person for your team. Kayla’s got the skills, experience, credentials, references, work ethic, communication skills, team skills, and personality you need. She’s got ‘it’! Every team member, client and vendor who has interacted with her these past few weeks loves her. They’ve been impressed with Kayla’s abilities, intrigued by her thought processes, and grateful for her work and team contributions. You finally feel as if a huge weight has been lifted. You’ve finally found the right team member who will help propel your team forward. Or have you… Something is gnawing at you. Even though Kayla has ‘it’, you’re not sure she’s a ‘fit’. Wait! What? How could a team member who seems perfect for your team, your organization, the job, and the clients, not be a good fit for your organization?
Acknowledge the Mood – Let Them Know You Understand
What does it feel like when you walk next to team members as you enter your building? What is your team’s energy level when you log onto a team video call or walk into a team meeting? As you pass others in the hallway, overhear conversations, and observe your team members perform their work, do they look and act excited and energized, or do they look tired, frustrated, or numb? Your team members’ view of their individual and collective work sets the tone for your entire organization, and it establishes how productive or unproductive your organization will or won’t be.
Communicate Strategically by ‘Reading’ Others Effectively
Being able to communicate clearly is a skill essential to any leader. That’s no surprise. Clear hand-off communication is imperative when transferring a strategic initiative to a new project team. It’s a must for business owners and CEOs when articulating strategies for company-wide enhancements. In addition, a 2016 study by Korn Ferry found organizations that were able to achieve a high level of engagement with their employees realized 4.5 times greater revenue growth than those with the lowest-engaged employees. A key factor in engagement is clear communication from leadership. Engaged employees are connected to the company. They understand their roles. They understand what is expected of them. And, they feel as if they’re understood and valued as individuals. So besides simply telling your employees what they need to do and how they fit in, what are you doing to ensure you are communicating with them in ways that resonate with them individually?
Need to Communicate a Change Initiative? Model the 2018 Golden Globe Awards
![By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (Seth Meyers) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (httpscreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SDCC_2015_-_Seth_Meyers_(19053138553).jpg)
Seth Meyers Image By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I speak, consult, and coach on leadership so I don't typically comment on awards shows. I also don't typically comment on awards shows because, honestly, I can't stand to watch most of them. I typically only make it through the first award or two and by then I'm tired of the glam, glitz, platitudes, and rambling political or activist comments of the winners. So, I leave the room or turn the channel.
Show A Little Respect. Knock.
Last week I had one of those conversations with a coaching client I never thought I'd have with an executive. It was something that, I have to admit, immediately caused my blood pressure to spike (I don't tolerate bullies or rudeness). It was something my client didn't like either but he was too close to the situation and had tolerated it because it seemed to be an accepted part of the organization's culture. His colleagues don't respect closed office doors. They walk right in.
