Building Momentum for a Breakout 2021: Communicate with Intention
Suddenly summer is behind us. Labor Day sneaks up letting us know that days will soon be shorter, cooler and pumpkin spice everything will appear on store shelves. This year, fall’s entrance seems even more shocking after a monotony of days, abandoned plans, trips not taken, and a pandemic that rolls on even we continue to expect that one day soon this chapter in our history will be complete. While our hopes remain, companies coast to coast, of all shapes and sizes, are making decisions, or not making decisions, about a return to the offices that bear their logos.
For many of us, we have been stuck in in a myopic survival mode. Change your lens. It is past time for a pivot towards intention to make sure that we are effective and building a future of our own design. We need to manage our people, bring them together (virtually and / or in person with appropriate precautions), and drive our businesses forward with eyes on strategic opportunities and untapped resources. It sounds so simple, it is not. It’s hard work and will require some new behaviors and skills. Considering whether we are communicating effectively is a great start.
For my part, I’m ready to start pushing myself and my clients forward – toward finishing out a challenging 2020 and building momentum for a breakout 2021 which will have its own obstacles. This post is the first in a series where I’ll discuss a few areas where a little awareness and practice can make a meaningful difference for leaders at all levels.
Today, I’m starting with communicating with intention.
Communicating with intention, what we say, when, how, to whom, and where are critical. Too often we get lazy. There is little intention or thought to proactive communication. Instead, we fire off emails and text messages responsively and
reflexively. Consider how with a few tweaks you can make a big difference with your colleagues, managers and team.
Make sure team members have full information. The only way to ensure alignment, mitigate rumor and inuendo is with a deliberate communication strategy that includes town halls, regular emails, updates, and above all transparency and candor.
Consider how many times a day and the communication channel you use most often. If it’s become mostly texts or emails, consider what is getting lost or miscommunicated. Pick up the phone.
If it’s important, it needs to be spoken. If it’s a team meeting, one-on-one, or task force, get these meetings back on the calendar and use them as opportunities for brainstorming, decision-making, and feedback. Meetings can feel like a distraction from the work. Pivot your attitude and consider them a way to create structure in your day, week, and month.
Show up and be present for video conference calls. If I am only barely dressed, hair uncombed, dog in my lap, or eating breakfast, it’s hard to listen and be productive. Recognize that being present, in every sense, is a reflection of professional brand with career implications.
Is your workspace communicating messages you regret? Perhaps it’s time to clean up the space, rearrange the desk, or invest in a filing cabinet. Consider the how your space is helping or distracting your virtual audience.
It takes a lot of self-awareness to slow down and pay attention to not only we are communicating, but also how we communicate. As we are relying on communicating in a virtual world, take the time to listen more and ask more questions. You can lead your team towards the next breakthrough, but it’s going to take going back to basics of communication to get your people to the next level.
Let me know what you think. Email me at katie@mmtmcoach.com and if you are interested in more articles like this one, stay tuned for regular content.