WHAT IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN A GOOD LEADER?
Some people seem to be born leaders, while others have leadership thrust upon them. History
shows us that many people who come from fairly humble origins have been suddenly
transformed into legends in their own time and beyond. What creates a Julius Caesar or a
Napoleon? What creates in our own era, and with less conquering involved, the likes of Richard
Branson, Steve Jobs and Warren Buffett?
The one thing they all have in common is that
they are effective communicators, and one
might even say "spin doctors". They
understand the importance of conveying a
vision people want to participate in. Julius
Caesar and Napoleon both understood
propaganda and were able to convince people
that their defeats were actually victories.
Effective modern leaders like Branson and
Jobs built companies from scratch, with every
worker becoming convinced of the importance
of the mission and willing to do their part.
In every opportunity for leadership, there will
be obstacles, pitfalls and tough times - not just
successes. It is how someone responds to
these tough times, and to their many critics
who want to pick them to pieces, that can be
the sign of a great leader.
As with many things in life, timing is also critical. Learning how to communicate effectively to
your chosen audience at the right time and the right place can be difficult, but can reap great
benefits.
Know Your Audience
The most important aspect of any effective communication is knowing your audience. This
audience will vary, so being flexible in your communication styles is a great skill for any leader
to have. In the course of a single day as the leader of a business or department, you might
speak to:
Staff
Shareholders
Business partners
Prospective business partners
Vendors
Customers
Children taking a tour of your facility
...and more.
How you speak to them, and what you choose to say or not say to them, is key to successful
communication. For example, you wouldn’t go over your Q4 sales results with the children. And
you wouldn’t give departmental reviews to your customers - only to your staff.
0 Comments