How to Lead a Team and Communicate With Confidence

lead a team

In the world of business, as well as in life itself, communication is paramount. And as every good leader knows, it’s not what you communicate but how you communicate that’s truly important. 

Poor leaders may be too insecure to voice their ideas. Or they may be too overconfident. Neither of these communication styles leads to increased productivity or team morale. 

But by learning how to lead a team, you can learn to communicate with charisma, insight, and control—interested in learning more? Continue reading, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. 

Make Your Views Clear

If you’re trying to impress and influence people at your office, you need to be clear on what your views are. The more clarity you have on what you want to get across, the more likely your ideas will pique the interest of those around you.

When you’re communicating, don’t worry about stepping out of line. The worst that can happen is that your views will be considered and then turned down. You can then use that as a learning opportunity for how to communicate next time you want to speak up.

If you never express your views because you’re afraid of rejection, then you won’t build your courage and grow as a communicator. If you feel that your views can significantly add to the team, then it’s worth sharing.

Be Sincere

If you work in an office where company culture seems to encourage people to keep their views to themselves, you may be afraid to speak your mind. You may feel that there’s a status quo when it comes to how you’re supposed to act, look, and speak. However, it’s important to remember that you can become a confident communicator without resisting corporate culture.

When what you want to share is genuine and important, it’s always worth communicating. Suppressing those inclinations won’t benefit you or the company. If you say what you truly believe, then you’ll have an easier time finding the right words and even convincing people to see from your point of view. 

Sincerity is especially important during times of crisis. Check out this post for some helpful tips on how to communicate during the Coronavirus. 

Use Statements, Not Questions

Some managers like to ask questions so they don’t seem so demanding. They may ask something like: “Joe, can you handle the presentation for the meeting next week?” 

While questions like that may seem less confrontational, they can actually do more harm than good. Questions like these allow people to come up with excuses. Because no matter what you’re trying to communicate, the employee can always answer “no, I’m too busy.”

Instead, you can say: “Joe, I need you to handle the presentation for the meeting next week.” This shows that you’re confident in your decisions. The key is to remember to show appreciation and gratitude.

Stick to Your Guns

When you communicate to higher-ups, you’re likely to get some pushback. You may become insecure when someone dissents to your views. However, you have to remember that the best ideas usually border on the controversial side. 

Whenever you suggest some kind of change, expect to be challenged on it. However, you should understand and believe in your idea enough that you can communicate why it’s worth considering. 

You want to have convictions without being aggressive or defensive. If you get too emotional, it will show a lack of confidence and an inability to adequately communicate. You want to acknowledge the other person’s viewpoint and then show why you see things your way. 

Add a Deadline

If you don’t tell your team when they need to finish new assignments by, then you shouldn’t be surprised when those assignments end up at the bottom of their to-do lists. Plus, your coworkers may become stressed and confused since they won’t know what to prioritize. 

When you give orders to your employees, let them know when you want it done by. You can’t expect them to read your mind. So when you give them a deadline, the task can be done by the appropriate time.

Repeat Your Request

Even when you communicate clearly and confidently, an employee may push back on your request. When they do, you shouldn’t simply cave to their requests but you shouldn’t automatically put them down either.

Consider their reasons for why they should have more time to work on something or why someone else should take on the project. If you still believe you made the right decision, then simply repeat your request.

Let them know that you appreciate their input but you need them to finish the assignment by your original deadline. You should then add why it’s so important that they do it as you requested.

When you can clearly and confidently let your coworkers and employees know why you’re asking of them whatever it is that you’re asking, they will likely put more effort and care into the work.  

The Importance of Knowing How to Lead a Team with Confidence

It can be intimidating and downright scary to lead a team of people. But when you believe in what you’re saying and you’re genuine and respectful, you’ll notice that it’s not as difficult as it may seem. Hopefully, after reading the above, you feel that you have a better understanding of how to lead a team and communicate with them confidently. 

Are you interested in reading other business and career articles? If so, check out the rest of our blog today for more!