Let’s begin with the premise that most managers and business owners don’t check in regularly with their employees to see what is working for them and what is not. Part of the reason is that they are busy. Another reason is that it takes time and patience to do so. It also requires us to truly listen to others. When I discuss listening I am referring to listening in a present non-defensive way. This means that you are primarily engaged with the other person not your own thoughts. Many people are often listening to their own thoughts or preparing what to say next instead of being present in the conversation. In discussing presence, I am referring to the ability to stay in the here and now.

Effective communication, in general, is built on a combination of intent and trust. Others can feel your intent. If it is sincere and honorable they will get it. Likewise, if you don’t really care, others will get that too.

In order to build trust with your employees they must know that you are also fair, consistent, and reliable. Are you? If you are not, then this is one of the first places to begin. In other words, be your word. If you say that you are going to do something then absolutely do it. Otherwise, communicate up front and as soon as possible why something has changed. Many people fail to communicate when or why something has changed or do so after the fact. Again, the more consistent and reliable you are the better. Congruency matters!

Employees want to feel appreciated and cared about. Showing caring does not mean that you allow others to take advantage of your generosity. It means that we are thoughtful. In other words, we are consistently mindful of their experience and their needs too. This may sound like work but so what. Most good things come to those who work for it. Understanding the balance between your needs and theirs and developing the ability to communicate about the difference is essential. Everything you do and say has an impact on the people you are managing. Let’s be more mindful of our words and choose our actions thoughtfully. Make sure your words and actions are consistent. Mixed messages confuse people and lead to less productivity. Improving one’s communication is therefore a function of consistency, awareness, and intent.