Six Principles for Leaders

These key principles for managing communication with staff were developed as part of a communication consultancy project for a charity in Scotland and were later adopted as the foundation for their new internal communications policy.

1. Cast the Vision
Leaders must communicate a compelling vision. If you can get everyone focused on the big picture, they are less likely to get wrapped up in annoying detail. Talking to and with people helps them to own the vision and feel that they are an integral part of what's going on.

2. Just Do It - Communicate!
Invest time in talking, especially with key people. Spending time talking with these people will help to disseminate information all round the organisation.

3. Build Teams
Leaders must communicate with their teams. Everybody on the staff should belong to a team and the team leader should expect to spend a significant amount of his or her time meeting with and speaking to the team. Team leaders should be well placed to know which information their team members need.

4. Develop a Culture of Open Management
It is vital that staff feel some connection with Management. Consultation and discussion can go a long way to helping with this but it will take time to build up a relationship of trust.

• Let staff be the first to know
• Take a risk and entrust with confidence

5. Communicate Change Effectively
Dealing with change is one of the critical aspects of management. How that change is communicated is a vital part of the change management process. Once more, spending time with key members of staff will be vital.

• Provide information about new projects as they develop
• Make sure key staff know about proposals early in the process.

6. Make Communication Two Way
Staff must feel that they know what is happening, that they have been consulted before decisions are finalised, and that they have adequate channels for expressing what they think. The benefits of good two- way communication will be very significant.