Strong communication is one of the most important tools a supervisor has — especially in government, where decisions often affect teams, stakeholders, and the public. In our recent virtual networking discussion for the Supervisors in Government community of practice, we spoke with Leslie O’Flahavan, principal at E-WRITE, about how supervisors can communicate with more clarity, transparency and empathy.
One major takeaway: lead with the main message. Leslie shared a personal example of responding to a workshop inquiry with a long list of questions before saying she was interested. The recipient interpreted the questions as roadblocks. Her lesson? Put the bottom line up front, especially in email.
The conversation also explored what transparency really means. Leslie explained that transparency is not just about what you say — it is also about how you receive questions. Supervisors may not always be able to share everything, but they can clearly state what they do know, invite questions, paraphrase concerns, and commit to following up by a specific date.
Another key theme was helping employees feel genuinely heard. Leslie recommended a simple but powerful practice: repeat back what you heard and ask whether you got it right. This creates space for clarification and shows that you are actively listening, whether in a one-on-one, team meeting, or virtual setting.
Participants also discussed how to manage rumors. Leslie’s advice: acknowledge what people are hearing, name the concern directly and use transparency techniques to address it. Ignoring the “rumor mill” rarely makes it disappear.
Finally, Leslie challenged a common workplace complaint: “That meeting should have been an email.” Often, she said, the real problem is the opposite — an email that should have been a conversation. Difficult, emotional or complex topics usually require a richer communication channel, such as a phone call or meeting.
Watch the full session recording below for practical examples and supervisor-specific advice. Also, be sure to sign up to join us online for the next Supervisors in Government CoP virtual discussion on Monday, June 22, at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, where we will cover “Leading With Authority and Empathy.”