Communication Tips for New Managers

Being an effective communicator will have a significant impact on the level of success you achieve in your new role as a manager. You will need to communicate with your team, as well as other teams and of course, other executives.

Communication is a crucial interpersonal skill that can help improve team morale, and by extension, productivity. It also helps to avert conflict, and should one arise, effective communication helps with faster resolution.

To enjoy these, among other benefits of effective communication, here are some top tips to follow as a new manager.

1. Be Clear

You will want to do more than just send a message. You want your audience to understand the message and being clear is the way to achieve that. Know precisely what you want to say and what you want to accomplish with your message. Have a clear objective from the get-go, and ensure you stay on-subject.

Clarity also means limiting the use of jargon. As a new manager, you may not know what terms your team is familiar with, so it's better to avoid jargon. It’s better to go with this approach and communicate effectively the first time around, than have your team doing multiple follow-ups to understand what you meant to say.

2. Stay Solutions-focused

Every now and then, you may find yourself dealing with situations that are upsetting or frustrating, especially in the early days of working with a new team.

These moments call for you to be calm and positive.

Instead of criticizing, suggest how best to move forward. Never should you come off as condescending, as it will make your team tune out and leave them with a bad impression that they may carry for a long time.

3. Be Approachable

Your body language, demeanor, and how you relate with your new team will let them know if they can easily approach you for whatever reason. Institute an open communication policy and let your team know you are readily available to talk when they need you.

The better for you if you can hold casual conversations with your team, on both work-related topics and those not directly related to your work. Make yourself approachable and available, and your team will not hesitate to bring up a matter before you at any time.

4. Leverage Feedback

Ask for and be sure to give feedback. It builds confidence for all parties involved, and you always know where you can improve. If, for example, a member of your team, or another manager helped you to resolve a problem, acknowledge as much.

Find out if there are any deficiencies in your communication plan, and make sure you address them as soon as possible. Your team feeling left out of the loop? Reel them back in with regular updates on the progress you are making on projects and where you stand with your goals and objectives.

5. Create Time for More One-on-Ones

One-on-one meetings provide the perfect opportunity for you, as a new manager to interact with and get to know your team members and other managers. These meetings allow for more direct conversations, which may not be possible with group meetings. People tend to be more open during these meetings, and it will give you some insights and feedback on which communication style works for your team, and what they have to say regarding a particular subject.

A Win for Everyone

Effective communication helps get everyone on the same page. It ultimately helps to break down the barriers and creates such a cohesive and collaborative work environment that everyone will have trouble believing that you are a new manager.