We know good leader communication is a powerful trust builder. A point that sometimes gets missed is that, just like trust, communication is a two-way street. Recently we looked at what leaders can do to improve their odds of being heard …. but what can the employees do to make sure they hear and act on those messages? A few tips:
Meet with employees and ask: “What does good communication look like?” Go around the room and ask each person to weigh in on questions like:
Share a time when communication was excellent. What made it excellent?
Share a time when communication could have been better. Why?
What information is most important to you?
How do you like to receive information?
Try to get everyone on the same page and capture their answers.
Discuss their responsibility in the process. Explain that just as you have a responsibility to share critical information, they have a responsibility to receive it. That means opening and reading emails, viewing videos, etc.
Get their thoughts on how to drive accountability. Ask “What should we do to make sure you and your coworkers open, read, or view the communication that is sent out? How should we address people who do not read or view them?” Since they’ve had so much input into creating the process, there’s no reason for them to object.
This is a great technique for getting people to lean into what leaders say and respond to it—which improves performance and generates mutual trust. For more ideas like these, please read The Human Margin: Building the Foundations of Trust.
