In Praise of Small Talk

Effective communication enables leaders the world over to build trust, embrace change, shape organizational cultures and foster learning among their employees. Little wonder, then, that just as leadership is one of the core skills organizations seek to develop in their people, so, too, is communication. So what role does leader communication play in organizational learning, and how can communication leaders make the most of small talk for big results? Some answers emerge from a 2003 qualitative and exploratory study conducted in a financial cooperative headquartered in Canada. The study was conducted to help the organization understand how communication between leaders and employees could help reshape culture and support organizational learning. The study revealed five best practices that leaders can use to encourage learning through conversations with their employees: 1. Use questioning. 2. Build partnerships. 3. Shared experiences are case studies. 4. Establish a clear and common purpose. 5. Make time to talk.