Communication Tips for New Managers

ManagementMarch 23, 2023 10:00


Congratulations! You’ve just been promoted to a managerial position. While you have moved up the corporate ladder, you soon realise that your work has drastically increased in complexity. As an executive, all you had to do (apart from reporting to your manager) was to fulfil your appointed duties well.

However, you are now in charge of a team of individuals who look to you for direction. Not only do you have to manage your bosses’ expectations of you, but you also have to lead your team by example. At this juncture, communication skills become all the more important.

Why is Internal Communications Such a Big Deal?

The culture of a team—and more broadly speaking, a company—trickles down from the leaders in charge. As a manager, you are a custodian of the company culture! The onus falls on you to create a positive culture filled with mutual trust and respect within your team. To do so, you need to master the art of internal communication.

There are diverse reasons why you need to communicate with your team. It may be to instil a sense of purpose, align expectations, foster collaboration or give feedback. Yet at the end of the day, effective communication has one primary aim: to ensure that your team is fully engaged and productive.

If there is a communication breakdown, there may be an increased likelihood of misunderstandings and conflicts. Projects may be delayed—or even fail to be completed—as a result of poor communication. Ultimately, it can lead to low employee morale, with your team quiet quitting out of frustration.

3 Tips on How to Communicate Effectively as a New Manager

1. Communicate Early, Communicate Often: One of the most common mistakes new managers make is to fail to communicate with their team. If you fail to keep your team members in the loop, their ability to perform their roles may be impeded. Not conveying relevant knowledge quickly enough may also be misconstrued as withholding information. You certainly don’t want to breed distrust in your team!

Therefore, avoid leaving your team in the dark. Keep your team informed about recent developments such as your company’s strategic plans or the latest project updates. This way, your team will feel more valued and connected to management decisions.

2. Encourage Your Team to Speak Up: Communication is essentially a two-way street. It is not merely you giving directives to your team—your team members will naturally have doubts to address and clarifications to make. Practise active listening; resist the urge to interrupt or multitask when they are voicing their concerns.

Furthermore, it’s good practice to set up regular one-on-one meetings with each member of your team. These weekly or biweekly sessions are especially crucial for those who are hesitant to speak up during team meetings (due to shyness or a lack of confidence). Check in with your team members about any challenges they may be facing at work—and how you can support them.

3. Recognise Your Team: Nothing undermines your team members’ trust in you more than stealing or taking credit for their work. Give credit where credit is due—you’ll never lose out! On the contrary, you enhance your personal credibility and cultivate loyalty within your team.

Lead by example and recognise your team members for their valuable contributions. Don’t hesitate to acknowledge work well done; be liberal with your praise.

 

 

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