The Role of Leadership Communication in Executing Strategic Projects

As a leader focused on creating the right strategy and running the business, it can be easy to underestimate the critical role of effective communication.

Communicating regularly with key internal and external stakeholders keeps everyone in the loop, clarifies where everyone fits in the overall picture, and keeps key players accountable for doing their share. But let’s get a bit more specific about some “effective” and “regular” leadership communication that often gets skipped in Leadership Development Programs.

First, don’t overwhelm your stakeholders with irrelevant information. Think before you communicate about what each stakeholder needs to fulfill their role and about how often and in what format that information would be most valuable.

Certainly face-to-face sessions with the team are important. But don’t fill their schedules with unnecessary or poorly planned meetings. Involve team members on a need-to-know basis and include handouts at meetings so data can be reviewed in more detail afterward.

Most importantly, be available to answer any questions that may arise and check in personally to see that your project and your team are actually moving forward as planned. To be effective, there is no substitute for positive personal relationships to get candid feedback and build the foundation required to make it through the inevitable rough patches that you will encounter.