Because managers were not hired nor promoted for their presentation skills. They were probably hired or promoted for their understanding of the operations.
They know how the machine works. That’s why you value the manager and that’s not enough to help them succeed as managers because they need to run the machine through their staff. They need to learn how to communicate with their team, every day.
They can’t carry their tool kit and be ready to grab their wrench when there is a problem. They need to be able to inspire, direct and trust their team to use the right wrench at the right time and right tension.
Successful managers need to be better communicators. They need to develop people skills that include communication, listening, persuasion and presentation.
That’s asking a lot from people who build their reputation on technical and operational expertise.
Managers direct people to fulfil their tasks. That means that managers achieve success through others. How can they do that? With effective communication skills.
If the manager presented a message and the team didn’t understand nor follow the message, who needs to change? The one sending the message. The manager.
Perhaps the manager believed they said the words right, yet the team didn’t understand nor believe it, who needs to change? The manager.
The message failed. The communication was broken.
A broken message is the responsibility of the sender, not the receiver. When I learned to juggle, I discovered that the secret wasn’t about how to catch the balls. It was about how to throw the balls so there was no effort to catch. Mastering the throwing was more important than catching. Catching was easy if you throw correctly.
That is true of communicating and presentation. Send your message correctly and it’s easy to receive, understand and remember.
Send a clear message and no one is scratching their head while thinking “What was that about?”
In the old days, while building the pyramids, they simply flicked their whip. That was a clear message that worked for those times. Perhaps some managers wish they could still do that. Some might still try to threaten. I remember a few managers like that. Still feel the stings from the lashes.
Offer them training to develop their presentation and communication skills. Imagine the difference when your managers can communicate effectively with their staff. Imagine the difference when your managers can communicate effectively with the other managers in your organization. Imagine the difference when your managers can communicate effectively with senior management and the executive team.
It starts with management training in communication and presentation skills because effective communication starts with thinking, listening, questioning and understanding.
When you want your management team to become more effective provide the training to develop their communication and presentation skills.