By Heather Campbell >> We all give feedback several times a day. It could be saying to the barista that your morning coffee was perfect or it could be telling your partner that they look great in their new outfit; whatever it is, it has an impact. In the workplace, that impact could be the difference between seeing a distinct rise in efficiency from your staff and seeing them become reclusive within their role, carrying out only the minimum expected of them. ...
By Heather Campbell >> The quality of leadership communication in organisations is a critical element in building an engaged and high-performing workforce. When communication is good, people feel valued and respected, and trust builds. When it is bad, demotivation and low morale quickly set in. But leaders in organisations tend to over-estimate just how good communication is; those who report to them often have a radically different view. As specialists in helping leaders build top-notch communication, CommsMasters have recently launched a free, confidential Leadership ...
By Heather Campbell >> Organisations run like clockwork. People are cogs in a wheel. We are measured by our output. We report to line managers. Using language like this turns organisations and employees into machines. We use this language every day in our workplaces without considering its impact on the people and the organisation’s culture. What impact do the words that you use as a business leader have on those you are leading? Or for that matter, are you a business manager ...
By Heather Campbell >> Working in a team can bring out the best and the worst in all of us. Teamworking can be fun, energising and creative; it can also be draining, conflict-ridden and demoralising. Communication is at the heart of both effective and ineffective teamworking. Effective teams thrive on authentic, assertive conversations with lots of healthy conflict. Ineffective teams leave conflicts to fester, allow back-biting between team members and have conversations taking place within cliques rather than between all team members. ...
By Heather Campbell >> One of the most challenging aspects of leadership in the workplace is dealing with difficult staff. Rather than facing the discomfort of the tough conversations that this usually entails, many managers choose to ignore a person’s poor behaviour – such as bad time-keeping, laziness, disrespect or antagonism – in the vain hope that it will disappear in time. But we all know that this won’t happen; instead it leads to a negative atmosphere in the office, with underperformance ...
By Heather Campbell >> Leaders in business too often try to communicate messages that they don’t feel 100% committed to. Even worse, some try to sell ideas that they don’t believe in at all. Managers who do this fail to influence because others recognise they aren’t at ease with what they are saying. Those managers who believe they can call people’s bluff are kidding no-one except themselves. Their body language, tone of voice and even the words they use will give away their discomfort, ...