Coaching Leaders to Coach Employees: Tips to Improve Communication

Hey, let’s talk about the one skill that can make or break your workplace game: communication. It’s often the top soft skill employers say they want, equivalent to technical know-how to do the job. At Social Optimus, I know communication isn’t just talking, it’s a set of social skills that build and nurture trust, teamwork, and results. Whether you’re in healthcare, manufacturing, or financial services, mastering active listening, verbal communication, and non-verbal communication can transform your employees’ performance. Let’s break down these skills with real-world examples and show managers how to coach their teams from “ok” to “great.”

Active Listening: It Pays to Pay Attention

Active listening—truly hearing, understanding and responding appropriately to others—builds connections like nothing else. Here’s how it can look at work:

• Healthcare (Ineffective): A nurse cuts off a patient mid-sentence about their symptoms, missing key details. The result? A shaky diagnosis and a frustrated patient. Trust takes a hit.

• Manufacturing (Adequate): A line worker hears the supervisor’s instructions but doesn’t ask for clarity on vague points, leading to small assembly mistakes. It’s fine, but not stellar.

• Financial Services (Effective): A financial advisor locks eyes, nods, and rephrases a client’s needs (“So, you’re focused on secure retirement funds?”). The client feels heard, and feedback scores can improve.

Coaching to Crush It: Managers, help your team shine with these moves:

• Lead by Example: In patient rounds, shop floor huddles, or client calls, summarize what you hear to show the expectation of “good.”

• Give Real Feedback: Post-meeting, say, “You zoned out when Sarah spoke—try nodding next time.” Track progress with behavioral checklists.

• Practice Makes Perfect: Run role-plays—patient chats, team briefings, or client consults—where employees practice rephrasing.

• Set Mini-Goals: Challenge them to summarize one convo a day, then check in using peer feedback to measure understanding and improvement.

Verbal Communication: Say It, Nail It

Verbal communication—clear, tailored talk—drives action and team alignment. Check out these workplace vibes:

• Healthcare (Ineffective): A doctor drowns a patient in medical jargon, leaving them confused and less likely to follow treatment. Satisfaction scores sink.

• Manufacturing (Adequate): A supervisor gives clear but cookie-cutter safety instructions, missing the mark for new workers. Compliance is okay, but not great.

• Financial Services (Effective): An analyst breaks down investments in simple terms (“This fund gives 5% returns, low risk”), winning client trust and boosting retention.

Coaching to Crush It: Managers, turn talk into results:

• Show, Don’t Tell: Let employees shadow you explaining a diagnosis, safety rule, or investment plan, then debrief on tailoring the message.

• Mock It Up: Host practice sessions—patient talks, safety briefings, or client pitches—with feedback on clarity. Use feedback to track improvement.

• Go External: Suggest public speaking clubs like to build confidence, with client or worker feedback as proof of progress.

• Nudge in the Moment: During talks, give a quick nod for clearer phrasing, then debrief to confirm understanding.

Non-Verbal Communication: Speak Without Words

Non-verbal communication—body language and tone—says what words can’t. Here’s how it lands:

• Healthcare (Ineffective): A nurse slouches and avoids eye contact with a patient, seeming distant. Low patient trust scores reflect the lack of patient connection.

• Manufacturing (Adequate): A team leader stands stiffly during a safety talk, checking the box but not sparking engagement. Teammate support is adequate, but no one appears to be going above and beyond to help each other out at work.

• Financial Services (Effective): An advisor leans in, smiles, and matches a client’s energy, building rapport. The client resigns an advisory contract faster than the firm average.

Coaching to Crush It: Managers, boost those silent signals:

• Video Vibes: Record mock interactions—patient consults, team talks, or client meetings—and review posture or gestures to gain insight.

• Culture Check: Teach non-verbal norms (e.g., eye contact in diverse healthcare or financial teams), sharing both cultural and industrial insights and perspectives.

• Mirror Game: Pair employees with mentors to mimic open body language in role-plays, building active listening behaviors.

• Spot and Share: Notice non-verbal wins in meetings (e.g., “Your smile got everyone talking!”) and follow up with post meeting debriefs to check the team’s perspective on small wins.

Why This Matters (and Why Social Optimus can be Your Guide)

These social skills fuel communication, driving better performance and career growth). Communication training and leader support can improve retention and customer satisfaction— often key metrics for healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services. At Social Optimus, I am here to help make the behaviors visible that are often known but invisible through observable, coachable and measurable company support.

Your Next Step

Managers, be the coach your team needs. Model these skills, give honest feedback, and real-world scenarios from your own experiences. Track progress with client scores, peer feedback, or engagement metrics. With Social Optimus in your corner, you’ll help your team go from “just okay” to “great building a company, and employees, that thrive.