New to Leadership? Here are 5 things you should know to improve communication with your team

New to leadership? Master these five essentials for effective team communication.

You’ve just landed your first leadership role! It’s natural to feel both excited and uncertain. Many new managers experience nervousness or self-doubt as they adjust to the position. These feelings are normal and part of the transition. This is a chance to grow and positively impact your team.

As you settle into your new desk, you might be asking yourself, “What should I do first?” You earned this promotion because you were great at your job. Now, the challenge is shifting from being a strong employee to leading a team with different backgrounds, personalities, and levels of enthusiasm.

The basics of strong leadership will make you effective. Focus on these five things to succeed.

Know Your Team

Getting to know your team is essential. Before making big changes or introducing new policies, take time to understand the people you lead. Consider organizing informal gatherings such as team lunches or coffee breaks to create opportunities for casual conversations. These settings can help build rapport and provide insights into your team members beyond their work roles. Additionally, hold open-door sessions where team members can drop by to discuss their thoughts in a relaxed environment. A recent Gallup report showed that only 27% of managers were engaged in 2024 (State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report, 2025). This lack of engagement meant that most managers didn’t provide employees with the support they needed to succeed (The critical role of leadership in employee motivation: how managers inspire (or demoralize) teams, 2025). As a result, employee engagement and productivity dropped, costing the world economy $438 billion (Gallup & Inc., 2025). That’s a huge loss.

To boost employee engagement, connect with your team. Some colleagues know the company inside and out. They also have lives, families, and hobbies outside work. These details might not be in company metrics, but they help you support and learn from your team.

Getting to know your team helps build the trust and connection you need to work well together (Gumus, 2025, pp. 1-3).

Another important step is to make one-on-one meetings a priority.

One-on-one meetings might feel new or even a bit intimidating. These regular check-ins with your team members help you understand how they're feeling, what they need, and any concerns they have. It's recommended to start with a biweekly cadence for these meetings. This regularity helps foster open communication while allowing enough time for noticeable progress and changes between meetings.

During one-on-ones, you will be able to get an idea of:

• Motivation levels: what gets them up in the morning

• Strengths: areas in which they excel

• Weakness: where they need more support

• Growth opportunities: areas where they can take on more responsibility.

Use these meetings to gather feedback on what’s working, what isn’t, ways to improve workflows, and new project ideas.

At their core, one-on-ones help your employees feel noticed and valued. When you listen and respond to their concerns, you show them, “Hey, you matter to this company, and to me.” Most people want to work for a leader and a company that values them (The Importance of 1:1 Meetings/Check-ins, 2025).

Make one-on-one meetings a priority because your employees’ success depends on them (The Importance of 1:1 Meetings/Check-ins, 2025).

Choose Mentorship over Micromanaging

One trap that leaders often fall into is micromanaging projects.

This is understandable; you were a top performer. You might do the work faster and better than most. Now, your job is to give your team the tools and support to succeed.

Instead of micromanaging, set clear guidelines and step back. This lets you focus on the bigger picture.

By delegating, you mentor your team with guidance and support. This hands-on approach helps them learn (Council, 2025). Delegate tasks, offer guidance, and help your team grow.

Be a storyteller at work. Storytelling connects you with your team. People remember information better through stories, whether they're basics or updates (Storytelling in internal communication, n.d.). Stories in company messages boost engagement and meaning (Internal Communication Strategies For Boosting Employee Engagement, 2025).

To get started, try this simple prompt: Share a story about a time when you overcame a challenge at work. What was the obstacle, how did you approach solving it, and what was the outcome? This can help illustrate your point while making your message more relatable.

What does storytelling look like in an organizational context? You can:

• Use anecdotes to lead into your reports.

• Highlight challenges that were overcome by your team or department in the monthly newsletter.

•  Share client feedback with the team to show the impact of their work.

Sharing stories about your company’s values, goals, and impact helps your team feel more connected. Storytelling makes company messages easier to relate to and more engaging (Gill, 2011).

Always keep communication open within your team.

Make sure the evening shift is aware of decisions made in the morning. Check that all supervisors are aware of the new policies. Even small things, like letting everyone know about bagels in the staff lounge, matter. These details are important.

Whether talking to your boss or team, clear two-way communication is essential. Good communication saves time and prevents frustration and confusion (The Benefits of Effective Communication in the Workplace, 2025).

Don’t assume everyone knows what’s going on or rely on rumors. Share updates, send newsletters, and hold regular meetings. Ensure everyone has the information they need (Howells, 2024).

Final Thoughts:

Leadership is about people, not just tasks. How you lead shapes your team's morale and experience.

Moving from knowledge to action is key. Start by choosing one tip from this guide to try out this week. Whether it's organizing a one-on-one meeting, sharing a story with your team, or setting up a casual gathering, taking this first step will help you build confidence and start making a positive impact.