Eight ways for leaders to connect with their employees
A well-known leader announced he was leaving his job last week. No, we’re not talking about politics, but business, and the ‘beloved’ CEO of DHL e-Commerce Solutions, Ken Allen. When the company announced his retirement on LinkedIn last Wednesday they described him as ‘the beating heart’ of DHL, with a passion for his work which had been an ‘inspiration to many.’ The comments went on to echo that, with former staff calling him ‘a legend,’ ‘a maestro,’ a ‘great mentor’ and ‘exemplary leader.’ Now, we don’t know about you, but we found it all rather heart-warming – and a timely reminder that people don’t just want good leadership, when they get it, they really appreciate it.
All too often though, it can seem that as leaders progress up a company they become more remote, harder to connect to, less visible. As we’ve said before, communication doesn’t come naturally to everyone, even those who make it all the way to the top. But people are motivated and inspired by good, visible leadership and if those leaders can be open and friendly, even better. So, if you think your company would benefit from staff finding the leadership more relatable, here are our top tips:
1. Push for the Internal Comms team to be involved early in business planning and quality assurance. You know it, we know it, but make sure your leaders know that having Internal Comms at the table will ensure staff communication goes smoothly from the outset.
2. Embed the importance of always thinking about staff communication by making internal comms the final agenda item at key meetings. End with a round-up which answers the question, what, of this, do we need to tell people? and nothing will get missed.
3. Make sure your leaders know what’s expected of them in terms of communications. Are they expected to do some themselves, e.g. Yammer posts? Or will they always be supported? Make sure these expectations are set out clearly and that they understand the impact their communications have on staff in the business.
4. Encourage your leader to give a bit of themselves when they communicate. Let employees see their passion, strength and commitment. If you’re lucky, they’ll be a naturally good storyteller. If not, that’s where a bit of training and a helping hand can make all the difference.
5. Little and often is best when it comes to communications. We know leaders are pressed for time but engaging with staff doesn’t have to be lengthy – it’s often more effective if it’s not. It does, however, need to be done regularly. Giving the odd nugget of wisdom or letting people know what they’re getting up to via social media takes just a few minutes, but it can be really well received and makes staff feel their leaders are approachable. We know one company boss who got his staff to finally start using Yammer simply by recommending the place where he got his morning coffee!
6. Prioritise visual communication where possible. Study after study has shown that video is a far more effective communication tool than email. People are more likely to engage with it – and remember the contents. It’s also more personal, less open to misinterpretation and it can be quicker to produce now too. Combine short, creative videos done on a phone – when management are out and about for example – with longer VLOGS which might have a more strategic intention behind them.
7. Turn up! You can’t beat in person for really making an impression. Post-covid, leadership roadshows have understandably been curtailed. Bring them back. Or introduce them.
8. Make sure staff are listened to. Connecting with staff should never be a one-way street. Have an emphasis on Q&As at town halls or do a specific ‘ask me anything’ leadership Q&A. A word of warning though, your leader will have to be willing to answer whatever they ask!
Hopefully these simple (but effective) pointers will not only serve to remind you of the power and importance around connecting leaders with their people, but give you some fresh ideas about how to begin to do it too.
