What’s the Secret to Effective Communication With Your Team?
In the quest to amplify leadership effectiveness through communication, we’ve gathered insights from CEOs and founders among other top executives. From holding “open-mic” sessions weekly to practicing active listening, explore the diverse communication strategies in these nine expert tips that can transform your leadership style.
- Hold “Open-Mic” Sessions Weekly
- Use Empathetic Storytelling
- Adapt Communication to Audience
- Listen to Silent Voices
- Provide Timely, Transparent Feedback
- Maintain Stakeholder Transparency
- Encourage Two-Way Communication
- Ask “What’s the Why?”
- Practice Active Listening
Hold ‘Open-Mic’ Sessions Weekly
One communication tip that has profoundly enhanced my leadership effectiveness is holding “open-mic” sessions every Friday. When I started RecurPost, I noticed that team members were hesitant to share their ideas and feedback openly, likely due to the traditional hierarchical structure. By dedicating time for anyone to speak up about their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions without any hierarchy, I saw a remarkable shift.
This approach not only fostered transparency but also led to several innovative breakthroughs, shaping the company’s direction in unexpected and rewarding ways. It taught me that some of the best ideas can come from the most unexpected places, and it’s crucial to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost
Use Empathetic Storytelling
Focusing on empathetic storytelling has proven to be the most effective communication strategy for me.
You see, we can throw around data and strategy all day, but what really resonates with people are stories. When you can connect with your team on a human level, by sharing a relevant anecdote or a personal experience that illustrates your point, it lands much stronger.
For example, instead of just saying, “We need to increase our focus on innovation,” I might tell the story of a client who came to us with a stagnant product line. We helped them implement a more creative brainstorming process, and by the end, they had a game-changing new product idea.
The story sticks with people. They see the challenge, the solution, and the positive outcome. It’s more relatable than just dry facts, and it gets them excited about applying those same principles.
Plus, storytelling builds empathy. It shows your team that you understand their challenges and that you’re in this with them. That kind of connection is key to building trust and inspiring them to follow your lead.
Jon Morgan, CEO, Venture Smarter
Adapt Communication to Audience
One of the most impactful communication tips for enhancing leadership effectiveness is the ability to adapt my communication style to the needs and preferences of my audience. A one-size-fits-all approach to communication simply doesn’t work. Whether I’m addressing my team, engaging with customers, or collaborating with industry partners, I tailor my language, tone, and delivery to ensure maximum impact and effectiveness.
When communicating with my technical team, I might rely more on concise, data-driven updates and technical jargon. In contrast, when speaking with our marketing team, I would focus on the bigger picture, emphasizing the strategic vision and creative elements. Similarly, when interacting with customers, I adapt my communication style to their familiarity with home improvement projects, using more layman’s terms and providing a more hands-on, consultative approach.
Josh Qian, COO and Co-Founder, Best Online Cabinets
Listen to Silent Voices
As soon as we hear the word “communication,” we think about talking; about whether we should be forceful or eloquent—gentle or narrative. But the greatest asset any leader has is the ability to listen; and ideally, to listen to those from whom you hear the least.
When we see ourselves as the source of the best ideas and the most inspiration, we miss out on new ideas, innovative solutions, and important insights. This is especially true with employees. They are with customers and partners, and they absorb everything. They have critical knowledge, untried ideas, and significant market intel. Ask them what they think, and listen for something that surprises you or addresses a serious challenge.
Amie Devero, President, Beyond Better Strategy and Coaching
Provide Timely, Transparent Feedback
A communication tip that has significantly enhanced my leadership effectiveness is the practice of timely and transparent feedback. As a Managing Director, I’ve learned that providing regular, constructive feedback to team members is crucial for their growth and the overall success of the organization. This feedback isn’t limited to formal performance reviews but is an ongoing process integrated into our daily operations.
I make it a priority to offer specific, actionable feedback promptly after observing performance or receiving results. This immediacy ensures that the context is fresh and relevant, making it easier for team members to understand and implement improvements. Additionally, I encourage a two-way feedback culture, where employees feel comfortable providing upward feedback. This open communication channel has proven invaluable in identifying areas for improvement in our processes and leadership practices.
Ben Whitmarsh, Owner and Managing Director, Generators for Export
Maintain Stakeholder Transparency
I always try to be transparent in communication. I always try to keep all stakeholders in the loop. Making sure that stakeholders are aware of the current status and progress of projects is key to being successful and effective. In my experience leading the engineering team that dealt with customer issues, it was critical to ensure all stakeholders were aware of the current status and plan for mitigation or resolution of critical issues.
Sometimes senior executives get involved in customer issues, especially when customers have direct links to senior leadership. It is critical to ensure regular updates with progress and actions planned towards the resolution of the issues are sent, so that if the customer calls, they have enough information to provide. I also provide these updates to customers, who are also stakeholders.
Being transparent and honestly providing all the information is crucial to gain trust. When stakeholders realize that you are communicating in a very transparent manner, and that you have their best interest in mind, then there is trust in what you are doing. That leads to being able to request asks from stakeholders that otherwise would not be possible without this trust.
Shishir Khedkar, Head of Engineering
Encourage Two-Way Communication
In real estate, it’s all about building trust and understanding what your client really wants. That translates pretty well to leading your team, too. One thing I find super important is keeping the communication two-way.
Sure, I’ll lay out the goals and deadlines, but I also make sure my team members feel comfortable asking questions, bouncing ideas around, and even—gasp!—disagreeing sometimes (in a respectful way, of course). It’s not about me barking orders; it’s about creating a space where everyone feels heard.
When people feel like they have a voice, they’re more invested in the project’s success. They’re also way more likely to come up with creative solutions or spot potential problems early on. It’s all about teamwork. The best deals I’ve closed have always involved open communication with the client, and the same goes for leading a successful team.
Samantha Odo, Real Estate Sales Representative & Montreal Division Manager, Precondo
Ask ‘What’s the Why?’
One thing that really enhanced my leadership effectiveness is asking “What’s the why?” to get to the heart of a matter. You see, when a team member comes to me with a problem or idea, I ask them to explain the reasoning behind it—like what’s the purpose or goal? What’s driving their thinking? What values or beliefs are at play?
By understanding the underlying motivations and values, I can better support my team and make informed decisions that align with our shared values and vision. It’s a simple question, but it helps me get beyond the surface level and lead with purpose and intention.
For example, if someone proposes a new marketing strategy, I’ll ask, “What’s the why?” to understand what they hope to achieve. Is it to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or build community engagement? By understanding the underlying goal, I can help refine the strategy and ensure it aligns with our business objectives.
Asking “What’s the why?” also helps me identify potential misalignments or areas where our values may not be fully aligned. By exploring the underlying motivations and values, I can address potential issues earlier and ensure we’re all working towards the same goals. It’s a powerful question that has transformed the way I communicate and lead.
Gabrielle Yap, Senior Editor & Culinary Entrepreneur, Carnivore Style
Practice Active Listening
Active listening is a communication tip that has made me a better and more successful leader. To actively listen, you need to understand more than just the words being said. You also need to understand the feelings and goals behind them.
Having worked as a lawyer for over 30 years, I know how important it is to listen to clients and team members. For instance, a client once told me they were frustrated with their personal injury case and the court process. By listening, I identified their issues and addressed them directly, improving our working relationship and the case outcome.
Statistics back up this idea. A study in the Harvard Business Review found that leaders who listen well have 86% more trust in their teams. This trust makes it easier for people to talk to each other and work together, which is important for good leadership.
Asking clarifying questions, rephrasing what the other person said, and commenting are all parts of active listening. This shows respect and understanding, which makes the team better and more united. Active listening has become an important part of how I talk to people, which has helped me lead better and ensure that clients and coworkers feel heard and respected.
Mark Hirsch, Co-founder and Personal Injury Attorney, Templer & Hirsch
