5 Keys to Communicate Better in Uncertain Times

It’s important for leaders to communicate clearly, but it’s absolutely critical that it happens in uncertain times.

So managers and supervisors will want to sharpen their communication skills – especially those used in complex, overwhelming or unchartered situations – to help employees navigate it all.

Researchers recently looked closely at organizations and leaders who communicate better with employees throughout the pandemic.

These leaders continue to gain employee trust even when they didn’t have all the answers or the information and protocols changed rapidly. And that’s exactly when they could’ve just as easily been perceived as evasive or crass.

Communicate Better for Team Success

“One of the fundamental components to successful teamwork is communication,” says Clint Padgett, president and CEO of Project Success Inc. and author of How Teams Triumph: Managing By Commitment. “If you can’t talk to your team, you can’t be successful. And the key to developing communication is face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball conversation. That’s how you pass along complex information and build relationships.”

Here are the five important keys to communication in uncertain times, according to experts at Horizons Tracker.

But don’t wait until something goes wrong to use them. Make them everyday rules for communicating clearly in the workplace.

Be Upfront

Employees often look to leaders to have all the answers. And that’s when it’s tempting to bluff with the little information you have.

Instead, be upfront when you don’t have all the answers. When you admit you don’t know exactly what’s next or how things will pan out, you show honesty and authenticity.

And you don’t set up expectations that you can’t deliver on when all the information is in. Be sure to let employees know that you’ll update them when new information is available to you.

Be Consistent

This could be the most important tip to communicate better: Keep your messages consistent in tone and cadence.

Employees may not know what to expect next. But if they know you’ll tell them calmly at regular intervals what you know and what they need to do, they’ll trust you and the process.

Collaborate with Other Leaders

You’ll want to maintain a consistent and transparent message within your group.

You’ll also want to work with the leaders in other areas your team works with to deliver, at least, similar – if not, exact – messages.

And if it’s critical information disseminating from the top of your organization, work together so the same (or similar) message goes out to employees at the same time.

Employees will more likely have faith in what’s said when they all get the same story. If not, they’ll fill holes with gossip or accusations.

Remember: “Communication and conversation aren’t the same thing,” Padgett says.

Address Difficult Decisions Head-on

Leaders need to make difficult decisions when figuring out how to get through uncertain times and complex situations. Don’t sugarcoat that.

Be upfront about the crisis, the choices you faced and how you sometimes had to pick the “least bad” option to get through it.

If you’re honest about difficulties, they’ll be more likely to rise up to help the team overcome what’s happened.

Direct and Seek Support

Explain how employees can help each other. Many people overcome difficult situations by helping others through them. They thrive on that “We’re all in this together” mantra.

You can’t force people to shoulder others’ burdens. But give them direction on how they can support solutions and each other – if they choose to.

To communicate better, researchers suggest you put a special message at the end of emails, reminding employees where they can get help online or from a leader if they face mental well-being issues such as anxiety over the uncertainties.