Earlier in July this article on the fired Vogue Director, speaking her mind on the fashion industry and the communication skills that were lacking, was astounding. And here’s the real take from her. There’s a lot to these two articles, but what I took away were two things:

1. Someone so revered and with such a long dedicated career in the industry can be let go at the drop of a hat.
2. The communication that was needed to let internal folks know what was going on was not there…and it did not allow for a proper farewell or release. What could have happened was a chance to fight for someone who deserved to be defended.

Now, I admit, I don’t know her. I can’t speak for the new editor, but what I can say is that each company, team, and leader needs transparency and good communication to hold onto a great team that is loyal and excited to be there.

There should be communication in a few ways:

1. Ensure your team understands management decisions and why they were made
2. Give the team a chance to speak their thoughts as they may have something important to contribute before the final decision is made
3. Always listen to both sides of the coin, because one side could be tainted and may not have all the details
4. Communication can be done vocally or in writing, but it’s typically good to have both as support. Verbal allows for context and explanation, while writing can support what you’ve stated in case of issues later on of misinterpretation.

But what else? It’s not just communication. It’s human decency to want to hear and listen to your team. Thank them. Support them. And back them up when it’s most needed. Because in the end, your team, those people who you work each day, are the ones who are making you look damn good. So show them you appreciate it. Just a couple words can go a long way.

I’m fortunate to have that where I am today, but it’s not always the case, and I know a lot of people who are walking through mines trying to find the sunlight on the otherside. It’s a rough place to be, and sometimes the best thing is…communicating the madness.

#radiatedaily

image source – pixabay