Joyel Crawford, MBA, CPCC, PHR

To alleviate Change Drain it’s best to share the Why behind the What. Make sure to share what’s in it for them, and how this change will impact the team and organization as a whole. Finally, checking for understanding after explaining the why. Hear what the team has to say about it and gather any questions they may have so you can help gain more insights.

Don’t forget to celebrate! One of the biggest things that helped me lead my career and my teams was to celebrate. Every night at 7pm I have an alarm that goes off that asks me "What are you celebrating today? What are you grateful for?” It’s essentially reminding me to add to my DIG folder- Damn I’m Good Folder-  I have a log of small and big success that relate to my job and personal life.  I would also encourage you celebrate your small successes with your team. Make celebrating a part of your agenda for your weekly meetings. Taking an inventory of each step your team has taken to accomplish your goals will make all the difference as you’re building your career and confidence of your team.

How does it feel when we’re able to help others? Those are great feelings, right?  When we’re delegating – we’re asking someone to help us.  Why rob someone of those feelings you just described? Why take away an opportunity for that person to grow and develop?  Still not sold-At it’s core- resistance to delegation is a control issue.  It’s easier to do it myself- right? When someone can help you, you’re freeing up time to do other things and hey you may even get more time to work on a passion project or spend time with your family. It’s a win- win but you may have to put a little bit of time in to get there.

I agree. You can go it alone. The best way to grow your communication skills is to look to your network. As you continue to learn from others pay it forward and lift while you climb. Help mentoring others with their communication skills will help sharpen their saw and yours too. Win-win!

A mentor of mine used to say that feedback is a gift. How you want to use this feedback to be a more effective communicator is up to you. You can choose to use bits and pieces of the feedback to enhance your style. Or you can choose not to use anything at all. One big key to receiving feedback is to thank the person who gave you the gift of feedback in the first place.

Self care isn’t always about bible baths and bon bons. Self care is hearing what your body is communicating to you. Self care can also look like taking breaks or vacation to clear your mind and recharge your energy. It can also look like communicating your needs clearly and concisely. Take a pause for the cause and listen to what your body is telling you.