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Communicating with your team

Communicating with your team

Learn effective communication skills and how to improve team communication

Course overview

The hardest part of being a manager often isn’t the tasks – it’s the people conversations. The ones that linger in your mind, like giving difficult feedback or handling unexpected reactions. And more often than not, poor communication is what makes these moments harder. 

That’s why good workplace communication matters so much. It builds trust, creates psychological safety and helps employees understand what’s expected – and feel supported along the way.

Whether you're stepping into a line manager role for the first time or simply want to strengthen your workplace communication skills, this course will help you build the skills needed to communicate effectively, in less than 30 minutes.

What's inside this course:

This line manager communication course, led by expert Culture Coach, Lizzie Benton, is split into four short modules - each focused on a key part of effective communication at work.

  • Managing negative mindsets – Spot unhelpful patterns and use reset techniques like Pause → Probe → Pivot, to keep your team on track.

  • Communicating with clarity and empathy – Practise active listening, clear messaging, empathy and awareness of body language and nonverbal cues, so your messages land clearly and your team feel heard.

  • Tackling difficult conversations – Use tools like the Respect Check, and open–middle–close conversation structure to handle conflict and challenging discussions constructively, and with care.

  • Motivating and empowering your team – Learn practical ways to build confidence in every team member, recognise effort and connect work back to purpose.

The course is designed to be short and practical, so you can take the modules in any order, revisit when needed and use the included resources to put your learning into action.

What you'll walk away with:

By the end of this line manager communication course, you'll have a toolkit of essential communication skills for managers - helping you support, lead and motivate your team with confidence.

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Module 1

Managing negative mindsets in the workplace

How to manage negative mindsets in the workplace through good communication

Negative mindsets can creep in quietly - a low mood, resistance to change, or unhelpful comments. Left unaddressed, they can spread through a team and hurt morale.

In this module, Lizzie shares how to spot the signs early and understand what might be driving them. You’ll explore the Pause → Probe → Pivot method and learn simple, people-first communication techniques to reset the tone, support each team member and build a more positive team culture. You’ll also see how positive body language and facial expressions can help reinforce your message and encourage open communication.

Then, in the resources section, you'll find a playbook with extra tips and practical conversation starters to help you manage negative mindsets with confidence.

Useful resources:

Module 2

The key communication skills for managers: clarity and empathy

How active listening, body language and emotional intelligence can help managers build better communication with their team

Every message lands better when it's delivered with care. And being clear doesn't mean being cold.

In this module, Lizzie shows how managers can use the three pillars of effective communication skills: active listening, clear messaging and empathy. Alongside emotional intelligence, verbal communication and body language awareness, you’ll explore how your communication style shapes the way a message is received, and learn how to adapt your approach so every team member feels heard, valued and understood. 

You’ll also learn how to pay attention to nonverbal cues and eye contact, which can make all the difference in helping your people feel heard.

Then, in the resources section, you’ll find our Manager’s mini guide to effective communication, plus an infographic to help you identify what type of leader you are and your communication style.

Useful resources:

Module 3

Tackling difficult conversations with your team

How managers can use good communication skills to ease difficult conversations

No one enjoys conflict at work - but avoiding tough conversations often makes things worse.

In this module, Lizzie shares practical tools to approach difficult conversations with confidence and care. You’ll learn how to plan ahead, manage your own emotions, and create psychological safety so every team member feels safe to speak openly. 

You’ll also explore the Respect Check – a quick way to keep your tone factual, constructive and respectful – and a simple open–middle–close structure to keep conversations clear and balanced. The result? Honest conversations, open dialogue and opportunities for employees to voice concerns that build trust and move your team forward.

Then, in the resources section, you'll find a toolkit with step-by-step guidance to plan, structure and follow up on challenging discussions.

Useful resources:

Module 4

Motivating and empowering your team

How to motivate and empower your entire team

Good communication isn't just about giving instructions - it's about inspiring confidence, trust and motivation in your team.

In this module, Lizzie explores how managers can build a positive workplace culture where every team member feels valued. You’ll learn how to start meaningful conversations, listen to what drives people, give ownership not just tasks, and connect work to purpose. You’ll also see how clear expectations, set with kindness, can turn accountability into a form of care.

And in the resources section, you'll find a handy infographic with quick tips to re-energise and inspire your team - an easy, visual reminder whenever you need it.

Useful resources:

Managers lack power and authority at work, study reveals

 

London, UK - New research has revealed an “authority gap”, which could prevent line managers from performing their roles effectively.

The survey of over 500 UK line managers, commissioned by HR software provider for small and scaling businesses Breathe HR, found that while line managers are tasked with responsibility, they often lack authentic power and authority within their organisation. 

This phenomenon, which experts are calling the “authority gap”, might include lacking the power to influence and make key decisions autonomously, control budgets, and shape team  objectives, despite having a managerial role. 

“Authority gap” creates cohort of “fauxthority” line managers

Overall, nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents admitted that, although they are responsible for one or more direct reports, they lack genuine power and authority within their organisation. 

Surprisingly, it’s not the newest managers who feel the “authority gap” most acutely:

  • Managers with 1 - 3 years of experience were most likely to feel like “fauxthority figures”, with 72% admitting they are responsible for people but feel powerless

  • By contrast, just 66% of managers with less than six months’ line management experience - and 63% of those with 6-12 months’ line management experience - said the same

 

Lack of training fuelling “authority gap”

When line managers were asked about factors that could be deepening the “authority gap”: 

  • More than 8 in 10 (83%) said they believe that authority increases in line with tenure 

  • Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) said more training would help them feel more confident and authoritative at work 

  • 43% said they don’t think their personality lends itself naturally to line management or leadership

  • Over a third (36%) said they feel people doubt their authority because of their age 

 

While factors like personality and tenure of line managers are largely beyond employers’ control, providing training and support to managers is within the organisation’s power. Yet, the findings suggest that this crucial area is being overlooked by organisations: 

  • Around 1 in 5 (18%) respondents said they received no formal training before becoming a line manager.

  • 17% said they have never been formally trained to handle tricky or unexpected workplace situations. 

  • A further 15% said they hadn’t been given any training to boost their confidence, authority and leadership skills. The lack of this type of training was most pronounced among experienced managers, with a third (33%) of those with 5+ years of line management experience reporting they had received no such support.

The findings suggest that a lack of training is fuelling the “authority gap”, leaving line managers ill-equipped to handle the everyday challenges of their roles. 

In response to the findings, Breathe HR is calling on employers to recognise line managers‘ pivotal role in workplaces, and invest in more support, training and resources to empower these key players to lead effectively and close the “authority gap”. 

To help, Breathe HR has launched the Breathe Growth Academy – a free skills hub designed to close workplace knowledge gaps in SME businesses, which often lack the time and funds to offer formal training in such areas. The Academy’s first course - Line Manager Essentials Training - recently launched with a series of bitesized interactive modules which will empower line managers with the skills to lead with confidence, authority, and impact. 

 

Phil Coxon, Managing Director at Breathe HR said: 

 “Line managers are business powerhouses. Yet they’re being overlooked – often tasked with a list of different responsibilities without any real power or authority to drive genuine impact. It’s a huge misstep. People drive business performance, and who understands your people better than their line managers?

 “With everything being thrown at businesses right now – from tax hikes to new workers’ rights – employers cannot afford to overlook those key players who keep teams well, engaged, and delivering results. 

 “We must recognise line managers as changemakers, who play a vital role in organisations. We must invest in their training and help them fully realise their skills, confidence, influence and authority. That’s how we create stronger, more resilient teams and unlock the full potential of our people - a must in challenging times.“

 

Charlie O’Brien, Head of People at Breathe HR said: 

 “Line managers are the glue that knits organisations together. They’re the ones on the front lines, who support and drive team performance, engagement and success. 

 “But they can only do this properly when they are empowered with tools, training and support. 

 “Employers who invest in and listen to their people managers – giving them real authority to make decisions, influence policy and shape outcomes – will see stronger, more confident managers, and teams that truly thrive.”

 

For all press inquiries, please contact Helena Forsberg helena@crestcomms.com

Congratulations, you've completed Breathe's communication course for line managers

You’ve completed Breathe’s communication course for line managers and learned how to handle negative mindsets, communicate with clarity and empathy, tackle difficult conversations and keep your team motivated. These aren’t “nice-to-have” soft skills – they’re essential communication skills for managers that build trust, psychological safety and a positive workplace culture.

Ready to test your knowledge?

Take the end-of-course quiz and earn your downloadable certificate when you score 80% or above.

Once you’re done, keep building your confidence with the rest of our expert-led Line Manager Essentials training in the Breathe Growth Academy – covering everything from performance management to boundary setting.

If you’re a Breathe customer, don’t forget you can track your learning under ‘My training’ in your Breathe account.

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