Gallup Says Only 13% Of Leaders Communicate Effectively – Here’s How To Be One Of Them

Over the past few months, I’ve had a series of fascinating conversations on my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast with some of the leading voices in the AI space. And it’s become clear from the insights they shared that there’s a critical message missing in most discussions around AI and leadership.

Namely, that the growth and evolution of AI will require a greater focus on human-centric leadership principles, like building trust and fostering empathy.

And key to bringing a more human-centric leadership focus is how well we excel at communication so you can nurture and strengthen connections with your team.

It means not leaning on your positional authority in expecting your employees to simply ‘get you’ and what you’re saying. But that you make an intentional effort to create clarity – especially during periods of uncertainty – to ensure team alignment and driving meaningful results.

Why AI Raises the Stakes on Leadership Communication

Research from Gallup confirms the importance of effective communication, revealing that employees who feel their managers are good communicators are four times more like to be engaged in the work they do. And while a majority of leaders believe they have strong communication skills, only 13% of employees strongly agree that their leaders know how to communicate effectively.

In other words, even if you believe you’re a good communicator, AI is going to require that we all improve our communication skills if we are to succeed at leading others.

3 Ways to Turn Communication Uncertainty Into Crystal-Clear Leadership

Fortunately, there are some simple measures you can take to turn communication uncertainty into crystal clear leadership.

First, start developing a communication strategy that helps you adjust your messaging. For example, what your leadership colleagues need you to communicate will be different from what your employees need to hear. Understanding this distinction is critical to creating clarity and providing useful context.

Second, build your mindful listening muscles. In my workshops on leadership and empathy, I teach leaders how a big part of their communication strategy is creating space for employees to share their ideas and concerns. This allows you to gain important insights and observations that will help you make better decisions, not to mention helping employees to feel heard and understood.

Third, repeat critical information often and through different channels. Neuroscience has shown that when we hear a piece of information several times over a period of time, we not only retain that information in our long-term memory, but we perceive that information to be true.

What Neuroscience Tells Us About Communicating Through Change

You’ve probably experienced this where someone will share some story and the more often you hear it, the more you believe it happened or it’s true.

But it’s equally important that you not just repeat this information often, but that you do so in different ways as our brain craves novelty as well as familiarity. And tapping into both will help with information retention.

While many people focus on the technical ramifications of AI on today’s workforce, the reality is that it will also have a significant impact on the qualities that leaders will need to have to be successful.

Developing and strengthening your communication skills will only increase in importance the more we move forward towards an AI-driven world.