Do's and don'ts for communicating with staff

To lead effectively, you must communicate effectively. During a crisis, you must be intentional, honest, and meaningful. Your staff is looking to you for answers and direction now more than ever.

Keep it short. Communication during a crisis is different than in normal times. Keep your communication short and to the point. It shouldn't be abrupt, but it definitely should be short. There's so much coming at people during a crisis that they can't process most of it. If you want your communication to be effective, it should be short enough to be understood in one bite.

Don't forget to be open and available. As a leader in a crisis, you want to be open and available. During and after the COVID-19 crisis, your team will have a wide range of emotions. Anxiety, nervousness, frustration, etc., will all be the normal emotions you'll see displayed during this time. Being open and available to talk to people and help them through their emotions will be greatly appreciated.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Dr. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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