Leadership issues are rooted in communication issues.
It can be the lack of communication or the wrong kind of communication. There is rarely good communication within an unhealthy leadership structure, personalities, and approaches.
Healthy communication cannot be charted. We can establish structured lines of communication, and there are some tasks accomplished because of the designated lines. Formal communication is important. Providing structure shows respect. Anytime we can communicate expectations, we develop trust. Where there is uncertainty, there is distrust. We insert guesses when we don’t get answers to the most basic of questions that help our daily lives. Formal communication structure, when it’s provided and trustworthy, are the dots that create the outline of a picture.
Informal lines of communication connect the dots—and not in a numbered order. People reach out based on availability, trust, responsiveness, and specific values each of us prioritize, whether it’s affirmation, challenge, or guidance. People want to be heard. Some people are content to repeat themselves over and over without change. Others want to be heard but only in the context of exploring change.
Acknowledging the informal is important to healthy communication. We can use the best of what is naturally working while strategically reworking what isn’t. There are multiple examples of university and park designers who let people test the space to help determine where walkways need to be placed. Where will people naturally walk, based on where they’re headed? When possible, build walkways in those places. Don’t fight where people will walk, because we can’t babysit everyone. Double down and tell people “no,” and many will determinedly walk where they want and disrespect the people trying to change them. Of course, sometimes change is needed. When it is, start where people are. Listen. Pay attention. Earn respect. Build relationships, Then bring people together to move forward. Finding common ground is always better than force. Force might get us where we think everyone should be, but it will drive people apart and away instead of together.
People are too important to sacrifice in the name of determined, controlled communication. Focusing only on the formal structure does not foster healthy communication. Allowing only informal structure doesn’t either. Both are needed. Most importantly, healthy leaders willing to humbly foster a respectful, trustworthy culture build healthy communication. No matter who you influence and follow, consider how you can be better at connecting the dots of communication today.
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