Why Is Communication Important in Leadership?

Warren Bennis hit the nail on the head when he said, "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality through communication."

Just think, what’s the one common trait of the world’s biggest leaders? From Barack Obama to Steve Jobs, the people who brought change in this world had amazing, in fact stellar, communication skills.

Strong communication is the key skill that enables leaders to convey their vision down the line. They use their words to inspire and empower the people working for them, which is how they go towards the achievement of a common goal.

As per LinkedIn’s Most In-Demand Skills for 2024 report, communication topped the list of the most sought-after skills. We’re living in a globally connected world, where remote teams and cross-border collaboration are the norm. In this kind of environment, the ability to effectively communicate is critical for business success. 

But why is communication important in leadership? Let’s explore further.

Importance of Communication in Leadership

There are countless benefits of having open communication in the workplace. The employees are always aware of the problems, they are on the same page as the management when it comes to the achievement of organizational goals, and they are more engaged and motivated at work.

On the employees' end, there is no ambiguity about their understanding of what is expected of them and how they can deliver the efforts needed towards the common goal. This way, the people feel more motivated to perform, and it also boosts their confidence and job satisfaction levels.

Leaders with effective communication skills also make people feel valued by exhibiting strong listening skills and empathizing with them. 

A study by the World Economic Forum found that over 76% of employees whose boss demonstrated empathy said they felt more engaged at work, compared to the 32% with an unempathetic boss.

Here are some further thoughts on why communication is important for leadership.

Builds Trust and Respect

When everything is transparent and clearly communicated between the leaders and the team, there’s better understanding. Employees feel seen and heard. They know they can trust the management and look up to them for guidance.

This creates mutual respect for both parties across the hierarchy. 

Likewise, if the leaders are cold and unconcerned, people feel disconnected and disengaged. They often leave such a workplace.

Boosts Employee Morale

When the leaders welcome new ideas openly, it brings innovation. People can come up to them with new thoughts, ideas, even problems, or suggestions, and know they won’t be turned away. This boosts their morale, as most of the time, people just want to be heard!

Making them believe their concerns matter and their questions will be answered brings down the frustration levels and creates psychological safety, where everyone feels acknowledged and appreciated.

Increases Productivity

Clear communication is also the cornerstone of productivity. When employees are clear about the KPIs, the goals, timelines, and processes, they are more likely to deliver quality and timely results.

Just like unclear instructions can lead to confusion and delays, leading to low productivity, clarity brings higher productivity levels.

Reduces Workplace Conflict

It’s not surprising, but most workplace conflicts come from miscommunication. At times, it’s unclear instructions or ambiguous emails, or a complete shutdown of taking feedback. All of these lead to miscommunication that can cause frustrations.

So, effective leaders who communicate clearly and consistently can prevent these problems from occurring. In case of a conflict, the leader can also meditate to resolve the matter, thus avoiding feelings of resentment from building up.

Improves Employee Retention

We’ve all heard that employees don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. Most of these managers often have poor communication skills. So the people feel ignored and undervalued, and hence leave.

Likewise, in places where the leaders listen, give active feedback, and create an environment of psychological safety, people are likely to stay. They are, in fact, more invested in their roles. And more likely to stick around.

Keeps Everyone Informed and Aligned

Good communication ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the daily tasks and long-term goals. Everyone from top to bottom knows what’s happening in the organisation and why. 

Effective leaders keep their teams updated through memos, digital meetings, or face-to-face meetings, and also encourage them to make decisions confidently.

Attracts New Talent

People tend to look for leaders who are supportive and responsive. These two are the top qualities that are spread through employee reviews, word of mouth references, and experiences. A strong communicator makes the company attractive to new talent. Their behaviour shows that the place values collaboration, clarity, and employee well-being are their prime concern.

Makes Difficult Conversations Easier

Often, talking about policy changes or termination is the most difficult conversation in the workplace. And leaders have to address them time and time again.

The handling of these issues makes all the difference. Those leaders who have strong communication skills can deliver the toughest of messages with empathy intact. They maintain professionalism and also invite dialogue and suggestions. 

This improves the outcome of the conversation and also boosts the morale of those employees who were leaving while preserving relationships.

Traits of Effective Communicators

The good thing is that anyone can develop communication skills over time with practice. To understand further why communication is important in leadership, let's take a look at the key traits of effective communicators.

Adaptability

The biggest quality a leader must possess is being flexible and adaptable to changing conditions. Adaptability can make you overcome challenges as a professional. When you have a flexible mindset, you can respond effectively to the changing schedules, expectations, global trends, and even work processes and goals.

Empathy

Being empathetic is often equated with being weak. But in reality, it’s quite the opposite. When you are in a leading position, the more empathetic you are, the more you will be able to recognize, acknowledge, and validate the feelings of your team. 

This makes the team feel valued, like they feel they belong in this space. They feel heard. 

Transparency 

Transparency is all about being open. It’s about sharing all information and not withholding anything from your team. Your team must be on the same page as you regarding the organizational goals, the challenges, and opportunities. 

Even if the information does not feel good, share it with them; this will keep them informed, on their toes for any future mishaps, and help them act promptly to threats.

Listening

The most important trait is active listening. Good communicators listen. They try to understand the meaning of the words along with the intent. You need to be right there physically and mentally for your team. 

Be attentive to the nonverbal cues as well because sometimes, what isn't said speaks much louder than words.

Accountability

Good leaders also admit their shortcomings. They are open about where they need to work on their personality or traits. Remember the leader's behavior and how they take criticism is reflective of the whole organization. So lead by example. 

Take the blame even if you’ve made a wrong choice, and the people will follow in your footsteps.

Wrap Up

Leaders today need to be collaborative. If we want people to stick around, we need to come down to their level and genuinely communicate. Leaders should work to make people feel engaged, empowered, and valued in the organization.

So, why is communication important in leadership?

Because shouting orders and running a one-man show is outdated. You need to listen to lead. Remember, your team can move mountains if you talk with them, not at them.

Sources:

• https://davidwgrebstad.substack.com/p/the-ten-timeless-principles-of-effective?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

• https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-strategy/linkedin-most-in-demand-hard-and-soft-skills

• https://www.serviceinstitute.com/leadership/empathetic-leadership-helps-employee-engagement/

• https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/features/why-communication-essential-effective-leadership

• https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/why-is-communication-important-in-leadership/#:~:text=Communication%20is%20important%20in%20leadership%20because%20it%20unifies%20teams%20around,integral%20to%20the%20collective%20success.

• https://www.serviceinstitute.com/leadership/empathetic-leadership-helps-employee-engagement/

• https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/liberal-arts/types-of-communication-styles 

• https://fi.co/insight/how-personality-types-influence-communication-dynamics-within-a-startup#:~:text=LaFave%2C%20a%20communication%20instructor%20at,passive%2Daggressive%2C%20and%20assertive. 

• https://peacefulleadersacademy.com/blog/why-is-communication-important-in-leadership/ 

• https://psychsafety.com/about-psychological-safety/#:~:text=Psychological%20Safety%20is%20the%20belief,professional%20consequences%20as%20a%20result.