By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Leadership Communication is challenging today. Nursing staff are in cognitive overload, so getting anyone’s attention takes a lot of work. There is also no one best method to communicate in health systems today. Although email persists as the “official method” in most organizations, we now have two generations in the workplace who prefer to communicate using other forums (text, huddle, WhatsApp, Teams, Facebook). The following are five tips to improve your leadership communication:
- Adhere to the mantra that “less is more.” Communication is primarily about word choice, and when it comes to word choice, less is more. Strive for brevity and clarity. Avoid unnecessary words and too much repetition, which can distract your message.
- Use a bottom-line upfront approach (BLUF) – Most of us have had the experience of receiving an “important email,” and upon reading it, we are still unsure of what we are being asked to do. BLUF is a standard in U.S. military communication aiming to make military messages precise and powerful. Unlike the older, more traditional styles in which conclusions and recommendations are included at the end, with BLUF communication, you begin the message with its key information (the “bottom line”). This provides the reader with the most critical information first. I would also recommend with BLUF email communication to put the action item and due dates in the subject line.
- Stick to 3 key ideas in every piece of communication – The human brain is rewiring itself in response to the constant stimulation we all experience in today’s world. While it is tempting to use meetings, emails or even huddles as information dumps, marketing research indicates that the brain can at best absorb three key ideas. These can be bullet-points, numbers or outlining important goals.
- Repeat key messages at least seven times using different channels – In today’s workplace, there is a constant flow of information through multiple channels. Every single communication must be understood in the context of that larger flow of information. No one channel of communication is enough so leaders must have a communication strategy. Marketing research indicates that we usually need to hear messages 7x before taking action which makes repetition important and powerful. Don’t worry about feeling like you have dementia. With important changes in policies and practices, there should be an intentional communication strategy designed in advance.
- Watch your body language and that of others – Our facial expressions, gestures, and body language can, and often do, say more than our words. Gallup researcher have found that 57% of communication is nonverbal. Leaders not only need to be sure that their words and body language are sending the same message but also need to get good at reading the body language of others. Learning to “read the room” is both an art and science.
While there is no silver bullet, and some staff, regardless of what you try, will say, “I never heard this,” these five tips can help you to be more effective. Great leaders understand that they will need to change their strategies over time to be more effective. Even if you feel that you have been a master communicator for decades, your current practices may not work as well.
Several years ago as editor of Nurse Leader, we reduced our allowable word count to 3000 including references. Occasionally, I still have authors who tell me that this word count is too little for their important work. I often have to remind authors that their article is “not about them” bur rather needs to be viewed through the reader’s lens. It is important to think about that as you communicate with others.
© emergingrnleader.com 2024
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