The Source for Communicators

Melcrums Source for Communicators - A Free Weekly E-Zine for Corporate Communicators

September 26th, 2007 Killer questions to improve manager comms

In the latest issue of Strategic Communication Management communication training experts Sue Dewhurst and Liam FitzPatrick describe how they work with companies to help managers become more responsible and authentic communicators.

"Helping your company's leadership to become better communicators is one of the most valuable legacies you can leave," they say.

But before manager comms can be improved, they believe there are five important questions that need to be answered. Use these questions to shape your own plans and strategies in this area:

1. Do managers know it’s their job?
Have you made them formally accountable for communication? Are there defined communication competencies and standards? Is this message reinforced by the behavior of your most senior people?

2. Who’s communicating with them?
If leaders don't get the chance to think through and discuss issues, how can they take ownership of the message? If they're not convinced themselves, they'll just trot out the company line and they won't fool anyone.

3. Have you trained them?
Communication doesn't come naturally to everyone and we don't all share the same definition. Many managers will think they've fulfilled their responsibilities once they've pressed the "send" button on the
e-mail.

4. Are you giving them the tools and materials they need?
If you routinely send out jargon-filled presentations or write "If you have any questions, ask your line manager" on the bottom of every
e-mail without giving leaders any answers, you’re setting them up to fail.

5. Is anyone watching?
Remember, what gets measured gets done. How do you track communication behaviors? What are the consequences of poor performance?

See you next week.

Mandy Thatcher
Editor
mandy.thatcher@melcrum.com