For startup founders and entrepreneurs, how we communicate can either fuel our mission or quietly contribute to stress and burnout in ourselves and our teams.

April is Stress Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the causes and cures for the modern stress epidemic. And a big stressor in startups is poor communication.

According to Project.co’s 2024 Communication Statistics Report, 53% of people report stress and burnout due to communication issues. That’s more than half of us. In fast-paced, often under-resourced startup environments, miscommunication can be a silent killer of productivity, morale, cohesion, collaboration, customer satisfaction, sales, staff retention.

As George Bernard Shaw said: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Just because we’ve sent an email or posted a message doesn’t mean our team has truly understood or engaged with it.

So, what can we do about it?

Here are some key ways startup founders and teams can improve communication and reduce stress – while building healthier, more successful work cultures:

1. Improve Communication Skills - clear, concise language matters. But it’s also about how we listen. Practice active listening, empathy and emotional intelligence. These softer skills are actually powerful stress reducers because they help people feel heard, understood, and valued

2. Establish Clear Communication Channels: define what gets shared and where. Is ‘Teams’ for day-to-day updates and conversations? Are emails for formal requests? Knowing which communication platform to use and when and what’s expected on each, removes ambiguity and keeps everyone aligned. More tools don’t always mean better communication – simplify where you can. Cut out unnecessary channels, clarify who needs to know what, and reduce the noise. It helps reduce overwhelm and keeps your team focused

3. Face to Face Communication: make sure you make time for face to face communications where possible too - ideally in person but via video calls is good too – seeing a person’s face plays a big role in improving communication – facial expressions, eye contact, and body language provide important non-verbal cues that help us better understand tone, intent, and emotion – things that can easily be lost in written or audio-only conversations

4. Psychological Safety: create a culture where people can speak up – whether they’re sharing ideas, raising concerns or giving feedback. When people feel psychologically safe, they’re less likely to bottle up stress or disengage

5. Mind the Gap: Carla O’Dell said: “If you don’t give people information, they make up something to fill the void.” – This quote highlights that it is human nature to fill any gaps in our understanding or knowledge with assumptions – often this can come from overthinking or gossip and can lead to misinformation, anxiety and fear. In the context of change, it's really important to be clear, honest, and consistent in your communications – ensure you leave no gaps. Even when we don't have all the answers, communicating that uncertainty with honesty helps maintain connection and trust, and reassures others that they are not being left in the dark. It's equally important to let them know when you will be able to talk more about it, this is reassuring

6. Provide Training and Support: offer communication workshops or team coaching. Topics like conflict resolution, active listening and handling difficult conversations can transform your team dynamics and lower everyday stress levels

7. Feedback: what’s working? What’s not? Ask your team, clients, partners, customers.... Then act on the feedback. Communication is never “done” – it’s something we need to keep evolving and improving

8. Headspace and Time: you don’t need to reply straight away. Headspace is essential for clear communication because it allows you to approach conversations with intention, patience and clarity. When you're mentally overloaded or rushing, it's easy to speak without fully considering your words or to miss important details. Creating headspace through regular check-ins, setting boundaries between work and rest, and prioritising your own mental wellbeing helps reduce stress and promotes thoughtful, deliberate communication. By taking the time to pause, reflect, and approach interactions with a clear mind, you're more likely to express yourself effectively, listen actively, and foster an environment of understanding and trust. This clarity ultimately supports both personal and team wellbeing, ensuring everyone feels heard and valued

Effective communication is the backbone of everything you do, from productivity to culture. During Stress Awareness Month, let’s commit to creating clearer, kinder and more effective ways of working together. Because when we communicate well, we not only grow our businesses – we protect our wellbeing too.

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