One of the best communication and leadership tips I can give you to help navigate this crazy time is this: Lead with warmth.
One of the best communication and leadership tips I can give you to help navigate this crazy time is this: Lead with warmth.
By warmth, I mean kindness, compassion and empathy.
Why?
Because warmth conveys our underlying intention.
It shows the people receiving our communication that we care about them and have their interests at heart – even if the message we’re delivering is difficult to hear.
Warmth builds trust and respect, and if someone respects us, they are more likely to respond well to our instructions, cooperate, and do good work despite the stress they face.
Warmth also supports our team’s mental health, which is crucial in this environment.
So, how can we incorporate warmth into our communication? Here are seven tips:
So there you have it; some simple and practical tips that will have a powerful impact on your team, now more than ever.
For more information on the importance of leading with warmth, check out this brilliant article ‘Connect, Then Lead’ from Harvard Business Review.
Stay safe and healthy, and remember to always choose kind.
Leah Mether is a communication and soft skills trainer obsessed with making the people part of leadership and work life easier.
With more than 15 years’ experience working with thousands of clients, and an acclaimed book to her name, Leah knows what it takes to communicate under pressure. Like you, she knows the challenge of conflict, personality clashes, and difficult conversations.
Leah is renowned for her practical, engaging, straight-shooting style. Utilising her Five Cs® model of communication, she helps leaders and teams shift from knowing to doing, and radically improve their effectiveness.