Practice: Clarity and Direction as a Manager

Four strategies can help you improve communication, helping you to communicate for clarity and direction.

Being positive

What to do:

• be courteous
• make personal connections
• provide positive reinforcement
• discourage negativity

What not to do:

• tolerate negativity, including gossip
• be dismissive, disinterested, disrespectful, or oblivious

Seeking and providing feedback

What to do:

• solicit feedback
• provide feedback

What not to do:

• get defensive or angry

Keeping employees in the loop

What to do:

• explain changes and decisions
• be open, honest, and candid
• tell the truth
• share information

What not to do:

• be vague, evasive, or avoid answering questions
• fail to clearly explain changes and decisions
• share secret or discreet information

Listening actively

What to do:

• give your full attention
• check for understanding
• paraphrase or restate
• use open-ended questions
• listen for feelings
• summarize

What not to do:

• interrupt
• fail to pick up on nonverbal signs
• judge, dismiss, or ignore feelings