5 Actions for Communicating with Diplomacy, Tact and Credibility

The Power of Credible Communication

Being a credible communicator—someone who says what they mean, clearly and consistently—is crucial to gaining people’s trust and cooperation, especially in the workplace. When you fail to come across as credible, team members are likely to question your motives, meet your directives with resistance and, ultimately, give you less than their best efforts. Yet, communicating with credibility doesn’t mean being brutally honest.

Distinguishing yourself as a trustworthy professional—and the kind of leader people respect, believe in and want to give their all for—requires communicating with credibility backed by diplomacy and tact. Gaining those skills, however, first requires an understanding of how not only your choice of words but also the way you say them—which includes your tone of voice and inflection, facial expressions and body language—are perceived.

Understanding Diplomacy in Professional Communication

If you think being diplomatic when speaking and interacting with others is something reserved for politicians, it’s time to expand your thinking. While diplomacy is primarily defined by Merriam-Webster as “the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations,” that dictionary definition also applies to today’s global business world and diverse workforce, where leaders routinely communicate with people from a wide range of origins, cultures and perspectives.

An internationally recognized leader in professional development and success, American Management Association (AMA) Global Network defines diplomacy as “the subtle, skillful handling of a situation,” which goes hand in hand with tact, defined by AMA Global as “consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense.”

As a true professional, committed leader, and decent person, you most certainly want to be a diplomatic and tactful communicator—after all, you don’t speak and act with the explicit intention of provoking and offending your team members. But you’re also a human being with your own ingrained habits and unconscious biases, so sometimes you might be completely unaware of how you are seen, heard and understood when you communicate with others.

5 Essential Actions for Diplomatic Communication

AMA Global recognizes the value of diplomacy and tact as key communication skills and critical components in being viewed as a credible person and excelling as a leader. From the AMA Global experts, here are five actions to help you become a more diplomatic, tactful and credible communicator:

1. Organize Your Message

• Take time to organize your message carefully
• Think through its meaning and objective
• Know exactly what you want to convey
• Start with clear, direct communication

2. Reinforce Your Communication

• Repeat your message strategically
• Use careful attention to tone and pacing
• Focus on clarity and understanding

3. Foster Two-Way Dialogue

• Welcome and encourage questions
• Listen actively without negative reactions
• Respond thoughtfully and respectfully

4. Embrace Different Perspectives

• Respect others’ rights to their opinions
• Allow for challenging discussions
• Maintain a non-confrontational environment
• Show respect to earn respect

5. Know Your Audience

• Be mindful of sensitive language or topics
• Understand audience expectations
• Adjust your message appropriately
• Focus on maintaining credibility

Developing the hallmarks of a diplomatic and tactful communicator takes dedication and practice. Consider seeking out a few people you trust, such as colleagues or mentors, and asking them for specific, honest feedback on your communication style, body language and habitual behaviors. With some investment of effort, you’ll come across as credible and be a more successful and appreciated communicator.