Communicate early and often

When you communicate as a leader, remember that people like people who are like themselves. However, leadership is such a lonely gig that at times, it forces people in such roles to take themselves more seriously than they should. You want to appear strong, intelligent, self-assured, and no, you can’t be wrong. Guess what? Your people want you to be authentic and vulnerable instead. It’s ok to be wrong. It’s fine to share who you are. And yes, it’s ok to do this in writing. 

To be truly authentic, don’t wait too long to communicate with people. It’s natural to feel like your communication needs polish. We all have the following concerns.

• What if things change? 

• What if people misunderstand you?

• What if you end up looking a bit silly?

• What if people perceive a sense of finality with what you’re saying? 

While these perceived risks are real, the risk of not communicating early is that the stakes get higher with time. When people understand that you’re thinking aloud with them, they’ll join you for the journey. Let them know if your thoughts are a work in progress. They’ll appreciate your transparency