Clarity in Communication
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Clarity in communication is a crucial workplace skill.
Clarity in communication matters, a LOT. It can have a big impact on how effectively anyone is able to lead, work with others, and move through the world with other humans. It’s not something everyone is born with, it’s a skill to develop, and it’s worth it — especially if you lead people or work closely with a team.
At its core, clarity is about making sure what’s in your head actually gets communicated the way you intend with someone else. Which sounds simple, but in reality it’s a common place where things can break down.
“Lack of clarity can slow things down, create confusion, and introduce a lot of frustration into otherwise healthy projects and working relationships.”
Why clarity matters at work.
In business, clarity (or lack thereof) is ever present. It matters in how leaders communicate expectations, how teams give and receive feedback, and how organizations interact with customers and clients. Lack of clarity can slow things down, create confusion, and introduce a lot of frustration into otherwise healthy projects and working relationships.
Clear communication helps teams run more smoothly. It reduces second-guessing. It saves time. It also builds trust, because it enhances consistency and people knowing what’s expected and what’s coming next.
A common breakdown: half-answered communication.
One example that comes up constantly is email. Someone sends a message with three or four questions or points, and the response only addresses one of them, while the rest are ignored.
That’s a small thing, but it’s a perfect example and it’s shocking how common this is. An easy way to boost clarity is to be extremely thorough. Read carefully, notice all the questions or requests and address them.
“Being clear about what success looks like, what the timeline is, and sharing useful information that people need makes everyone’s job easier.”
When communication is incomplete, it creates space for confusion and adds friction.
Setting expectations.
Another place clarity is needed and especially important is setting expectations with a team. Being clear about what success looks like, what the timeline is, and sharing useful information that people need makes everyone’s job easier.
Leaving things vague or overly flexible can feel polite, but it often creates more work later. “We could do this or that, whatever works” sounds accommodating, but it puts the burden of decision-making back on someone else.
Also in many cases, when expectations are loose, once the work gets done problems arise because the leader or person who receives the work provides feedback around things that should’ve been communicated at the outset. This reduces efficiency and can be a morale killer for the team.
“Every team benefits by being aware of whether clarity is an area of strength or an opportunity to improve.”
Assessing your own communication.
Clarity is a valuable thing to examine. As an individual or as a team, it’s worth evaluating how clear you are. On a scale of one to five, are expectations obvious? Are timelines explicit? Are we clear both in writing and our conversations?
Every team benefits by being aware of whether clarity is an area of strength or an opportunity to improve. And having real conversations and putting systems and action in place to prioritize clarity.
Clarity as a leadership trait.
Another place clarity should be part of the conversation is when thinking about who to put into leadership positions, Lack of clear communication creates dysfunction, confusion, and unnecessary misalignment inside teams.
“If you care about relationships, outcomes, and trust, clarity in communication is foundational.”
Leaders who communicate clearly help create healthier cultures. They support better collaboration, stronger relationships, and smoother experiences for customers and clients. Across the board, clarity makes teams and working relationships work better.
If you care about relationships, outcomes, and trust, clarity in communication is foundational.
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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