For many organizations, collaboration is a key element. But just because teams are collaborating more than ever doesn’t mean they’re doing it effectively – and the main culprit is usually communication. In an era where we’re balancing in-person, hybrid and remote workers, effective communication is more important than ever. But it takes work and it often means being candid.

When people hear the words “candid conversation,” it can often be accompanied with feelings of anxiety and a pit in their stomach. But being “candid” doesn’t have to be synonymous with being disrespectful or unkind. In fact, candid communication used in the right way is kind – it builds greater trust, transparency and opens the door to more constructive conversations about tough issues.

So often, managers (particularly new ones) and team members are focused on being “nice” and they’re afraid to speak up when problems arise. Or they sugar coat communication so much that it loses any effectiveness. There are ways to be both candid and respectful. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Learn how to provide feedback: We touched on this briefly in our last article, but learning how to give constructive feedback is so vital. When challenges arise, leaders can use both kindness and candor at the same time. The key is self-awareness and training. It’s important to understand your own feelings about having difficult conversations, especially if you’ve had experiences when feedback was given in a hurtful way or if you’re uncomfortable with conflict.
• Build trust through communication: When you build relationships that include mutual trust, you and your team will be more comfortable bringing up issues and being yourselves. How do you build that kind of relationship? Actually, the first step is being more candid! A leader who provides honest and transparent communication is more likely to gain the trust of their team than someone with a facade of “niceness”.
• Make sure you lead by example: Again, it all comes from the top. Show that you’re open to feedback (ask for it!) and others will do the same. Provide opportunities for team members to bring up issues without having to be afraid of repercussions and reward those who do it respectfully. Not every candid remark will be helpful, but nurturing a culture of candor and kindness has more benefits than downsides.

Remember that approaching difficult conversations with kindness allows you to be both objective and empathetic – and these are the basic requirements for candidness.

Effective communication is the backbone of any organization, yet many leaders struggle when it comes to having honest, candid conversations with team members. Working with a coach, like Leah M Joppy and Associations, can help managers at any stage in their career take a closer look at their communication style, areas for improvement and tactics to provide feedback and solve problems in a direct and respectful way. Your employees will thank you for it!

Call us at 301-670-0051 or email us at leah@lmja.com to learn more.