The Top 9 Communication Skills Every Manager Needs

Communication skills are the key to success in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. They help managers build effective relationships, inspire their team members, and deliver results in a way that is consistent with the mission of the team.

But communication skills are not limited to conversing with your team. In fact, effective communication skills are much more than that! And the good news is that managers can develop communication skills over time. So whether you’re a manager or an aspiring leader, communication skills are essential for effective functioning in every role. Read this blog to learn why communication skills are necessary for managers and what crucial communication skills every manager needs.

What are communication skills?

Communication skills are accurately conveying information and intentions to another party. In addition to sharing one’s side, communication skills also include understanding and interpreting messages shared by another party. As communication is a two-way process, both sides are equally critical to effective communication. A manager’s communication skills are not limited to sharing information with the right intent; they are also required to interpret others, use nonverbal cues, and apply them across different formats.

Find out proven tips for effective communication here.

Why do managers need communication skills?

Managers need communication skills for a variety of reasons. For example, managers need to communicate effectively with their employees to ensure that they are aware of current and future developments in the team and that they can carry out their duties effectively. Managers also need to be able to communicate with customers and clients to ensure that they can resolve grievances that may arise.

In addition, managers often need to communicate with other departments within the company to ensure that all necessary resources are available when needed. Finally, managers need to be able to communicate with external stakeholders, such as government officials or investors, to promote the company’s goals and objectives.

To achieve the team’s objectives, a manager’s communication skills are critical as they help them collaborate, generate ideas, and work with others for the best results.

You can read more about why managers need communication skills in the workplace here.

What are the communication skills every manager needs?

Active listening

Active listening is a crucial communication skill for managers to master. Active listening involves giving complete attention to the speaker, taking in their message, and processing it to understand the problem and provide a solution. In active listening, you must actively engage with the speaker and ask questions to understand their concerns better. It builds a strong relationship with your employees and helps foster open communication within your team. By listening carefully and asking good questions, you can better understand your employees’ challenges and help them succeed.

Assertiveness

Assertiveness is the ability to stand up and take charge of activities in the team. Asserting can be applied in various situations, from directing operations to dealing with difficult employees. Assertiveness is important for managing relationships and building trust at work. The best managers are assertive and confident, as they know how to handle typical workplace challenges effectively. They are not afraid to voice their opinions and stand up for the team’s core values.

Assertive communicators know how to express their needs without being pushy or demanding while communicating clearly and professionally. In addition, assertive people know how to listen and understand others without losing their voice. However, make sure that assertive communication does not turn into aggressive communication.

Learn more about different communication styles here.

Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is a crucial part of effective communication. It includes body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Nonverbal communication can convey positive or negative messages and can have a powerful impact on relationships. Whether verbal communication is effective depends on the other person’s nonverbal communication.

Managers must be able to read and understand their employees’ signals to communicate with them effectively. It requires developing empathy, listening, and asking good questions to understand their perspectives and goals better. Because nonverbal communication is automatic and unconscious, it is difficult to control and can be misinterpreted often. Hence, managers should focus on practicing it too!

Verbal communication

Verbal communication is an essential type of communication when it comes to managing people. It is the process of exchanging information, thoughts, and feelings using words. A good manager must be skilled at listening to employees and providing feedback that can help improve their skills and foster a positive workplace culture. Effective managers use clear, concise, and meaningful sentences when communicating with their employees.

Additionally, good managers can handle difficult conversations that may arise between employees. They must be calm and confident when faced with employee conflict or disagreement. Finally, to effectively communicate with their team, a good manager must develop rapport-building skills that can help promote growth and development within their team.

Written communication

When it comes to effective communication in the workplace, written communication is a crucial component. Good written communication includes clear and concise sentences, effective use of grammar, and accurate spelling. It also consists of a clear message that is easy to understand. In addition, written communication should be delivered respectfully, emphasizing the importance of listening and communicating with clarity and empathy. When done well, good written communication can help build relationships and improve workplace culture. In addition, it carries a sense of formality too.

Presentation

A good presentation can make a significant impact on the way people perceive you. It can help build credibility, trust, and relationships with others. To be effective, communication in a presentation requires clear and concise messaging. You must have a written agenda or script and ensure your voice is not too loud or too soft. Effective communication in a presentation requires listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to what is being said. Finally, a good presentation is an investment in your career that pays off in credibility, trust, and relationships. By investing in presentation skills, managers can persuade others around their ideas.

Confidence

Managers must be confident in their ability to communicate and convey their message clearly to succeed in their role. Confidence adds emphasis to the message that one is trying to share. Building confidence in your communication skills can take practice, listening attentively, and preparing for questions. Listening attentively to other team members is an excellent way to practice communication skills. Different forms of building confidence in your communication skills include practicing and improving your verbal and nonverbal communication skills through prompts.

Finally, being prepared for questions during a meeting would demonstrate that you are confident in communicating effectively with your team members. By establishing a willingness to listen and the ability to answer questions, you can express a confident air that enhances your perception as a capable manager.

Adaptability

Managers need to be able to adapt their communication style to fit the situation. For example, if a manager communicates with a team of employees over email, they will likely have different communication styles. The manager needs to listen and take in information and respond most effectively. Additionally, managers must stay calm under pressure and think on their feet when communicating with their team. Finally, managers must express themselves clearly and concisely to communicate effectively with their team. Overall, communicating as a manager requires strong skills that can help create effective relationships with various people – all of whom might communicate differently.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is essential for effective communication in any setting, including the workplace. A good manager has empathy skills that enable them to connect with their team members and build trust. These managers can better identify and solve problems within the organization as they can visualize issues from multiple perspectives. They can also make better decisions that will improve the team’s success. Empathy improves communication as it enables a manager to understand better the intention and ideas of the person in front of them.

Are your communication skills up to the mark?

Strong communication skills mark indispensable managers. But are you prepared to take your team through challenges with your communication skills? Test now for free with the Communication Skills self-assessment for managers.

The free Communication Skills self-assessment for managers helps identify the blind spots in your usual communication style that might be holding you back. In addition to the holistic assessment of communication skills, the team assessment lets managers take feedback on their communication skills from their team members. So start the journey toward self-improvement now!

Conclusion

Communication skills are a necessity for any manager. They help you build better relationships with your team and boost morale, but they also help you make better decisions and get the job done faster. However, communication skills are learned by practicing them. The more you use them in your day-to-day interactions, the easier they become. When communicating with your team, it’s essential to listen and speak. Empathizing with others and showing that you understand their needs makes a big difference when communicating with them. If you’re looking to up your game in communication skills, we suggest reading this blog and more on Risely!