Nearly everyone agrees that leaders require great communication skills. Leadership, in part, is about communication, and being able to transmit and receive ideas without interference and misunderstandings.
The topic of communication for leadership success is relevant to everyone, because everybody leads sometimes. Even if you don’t hold an “official” leadership role in politics, the workplace, or elsewhere, you are a leader sometimes in your friendships and relationships, your dealings with independent contractors, or other situations outside the workplace.
What to communicate is nearly as important as how you communicate it. To succeed as a leader, you have to be able to communicate a positive attitude. If you are happy, motivated, and excited to be doing what you’re doing, others will pick up on this and emulate it. Another important aspect of communication in leadership is conveying a sense of trust. If people believe you trust them to do the right thing, most of the time, they will. Show that you hold a strong commitment to a project or idea, and others will become more committed as a result.
Particularly in the workplace, openness to feedback can do wonders. Always be honest with others, and keep an open-door policy; at the same time, make sure you actually live up to it. People who believe they can come to you at any time with problems will be happier and more motivated than those who think you’re out to get them somehow. At the same time, ensure everyone is aware of their job responsibilities, and your expectations for them. If you are effectively communicated, all of this and more will be communicated to your subordinates, peers, or whomever else you may be leading.
Watch the context and non-verbal messages when speaking and listening. Someone may seem to be hostile towards you, when in fact they’ve had a very bad day. Growing angry at them in response to a perceived slight probably won’t help the situation. On the other hand, if someone’s tone is hostile but their message is deceptively friendly and you suspect they’re playing mind games or really feel a different way, call the person out on it by mentioning that they seem like they hold stronger feelings and asking the other individual to share them. If you catch yourself using non-verbal language that you probably shouldn’t, try not to – being honest will go a long way to help you here.
When listening, focus on the other party and what they’re saying, not how you will respond, and focus on the message, not the exact way it’s worded. People may grow frustrated and perceive you as nit-picking details if you obsess over the exact word choice they used; if you understand the content, even if you don’t agree, they will be more likely to remain friendly and receptive to your response.
Finally, always provide feedback to show you have understood. Rephrasing what they said or asking them questions that show you understood are great ways to do this, and will help people see that you are an effective, competent leader.
Communication skills are an integral part of leadership both in and out of the workplace; those who can communicate effectively will get far in life!
Tags: Communication, Leadership