Straight Talk
As I walked the halls of my client’s organization, I sensed a buzz in the air. Everyone seemed to be talking about the same topic, but no two stories were the same. Gossip had taken over the workplace and very little work was being done. And yet, when I asked if I had missed an email, I was told, “No official communication has been shared.”
Sound familiar? At some point in your work career, you have no doubt experienced a similar situation. In the absence of effective, internal communications, workplace rumors can take on a life of their own, impacting productivity and morale.
In a recent interview with thought leader and communications expert, Victoria Doxat, we discussed the key role that communication plays in an organization. She explained, “I think if you have open, honest, and clear communication, even if the message is not always well received, you still have a duty of care towards the people that you are employing to be honest with them. It's not easy to tell people that they are at risk of redundancy or that there are financial issues on the horizon. But you are responsible for the people who are giving you their hours and their days. Communication is very important, and failure of communication can be catastrophic on many different levels.”
At the heart of organizational culture is the value of trust. As I’ve written before, there is a direct relationship between workplace trust and life satisfaction, a measure of well-being. Trust is built when leaders communicate authentically and transparently.
Use communication to improve employee well-being
In today’s hectic, hybrid, and hyperactive world of work, employees are stressed, anxious, and burned out. Communications can improve employee well-being by providing clear, actionable, and relevant information. Being open and upfront reduces employee anxiety and worry, and lets them stay focused on their work.
Lead with why. Communications expert, Nancy Duarte, has written and rewritten thousands of corporate messages in her career. She encourages leaders to talk about why something is being done. According to Duarte, “Answering ‘why’ often leads to a human who will benefit from the action you’re asking people to take. It suddenly matters.”
Timing is everything. In a recent conversation with a colleague, Duarte shared how a CEO newsletter served as a foundational aspect of the organization’s culture. “Everyone looked forward to receiving the weekly leadership update. It was viewed as the definitive word on what was going on within the organization.” Regular communication promotes consistency, builds trust, and improves productivity.
Be authentic. We all know that the future is uncertain. Leaders don’t always know all the answers. As Harvard Professor, Amy Edmundson writes, “Task one is transparency.” Be clear about what is known, what is unknown, and how the gap will be closed.
Straight talk can lead to building trust in an organization and to employees feeling less stressed. Transparent, authentic communications are good for everyone.
