Addressing the mid-decade communication challenges that keep leaders awake
Can you believe we’re nearly at the middle of the decade? It’s a time when senior leaders face one of the most complex communication environments yet.
Public trust is under severe strain.
Workplaces are still dispersed with high levels of stress and mental health issues.
There are so many communication channels it makes our head spin.
Can you relate to these challenges when it comes to credible communication? Mastering them is essential if you want to be believable, dependable and reputable as a leader.
1. Rebuilding trust in a tough crowd
Trust in leaders and institutions has taken a hit across all sectors. People are more cynical and cautious about what they hear and who they hear it from. As a leader, you must be transparent, real and accountable, while understanding that even well-intended messages can be misinterpreted under so much scrutiny. Rebuild trust one interaction at a time.
2. Being a communication all-rounder
Senior leaders are expected to communicate across an ever-increasing array of channels – some intimate and direct and others involving large audiences. Whether you’re fronting a town hall meeting or responding to a small group in a messaging app, be consistent in what you say. If you’re stronger at some types of communication than others, it’s time to work on those development areas.
3. Communicating in the certainty gaps
As sectors harness the positives of generative AI, there’s also concern and suspicion about the impact on jobs. Global politics continues to fuel uncertainty on a large scale. Change is big and constant – and many workplaces have taken on remote and hybrid options as permanent features.
Leaders must guide their teams through shifting circumstances without fostering panic or paralysis, often without the benefit of being physically present. Rather than waiting for certainty on every issue (which is unlikely to ever come), get comfortable with communicating inside the certainty gaps, sharing what you know, what you don’t and what you expect to happen.
Galloping towards 2030, your mission isn’t just to communicate clearly. It’s to be believable, dependable and reputable amid huge complexity.
Outstanding communication is central to performance, influence and an organisational culture that stands up to the challenges of our times.
Do you need support with that? Let’s talk about how I can help build trust, clarity and credibility in your organisation. After all, without those qualities everything else unravels.
