It is simply impossible to become a great leader without being a great communicator. While understanding great communication skills, being able to appropriately draw upon those skills fluidly can take some work. Oddly enough, the key to becoming a skillful communicator is rarely found in what has been taught in the world of academia. From our earliest days in the classroom we are trained to focus on annunciation, vocabulary, presence, delivery, grammar, syntax and the like. In other words, we are taught to focus on ourselves. While I don’t mean to belittle these things as they’re important to learn, it’s the more subtle elements of communication that are rarely taught in the classroom (the elements that focus on others) that leaders desperately need to learn. It is the ability to develop a keen external awareness that separates the truly great communicators from those who muddle through their interactions with others. In this article, we will share a few of the communication traits that if used consistently, will help you achieve better results in the workplace.
- Try not to speak disparagingly about others. In the majority of cases, people don’t trust or open up to those that have a demeaning attitude or reputation. Trust is created and can’t be demanded.
- Get closer than an arm’s length away. If you don’t allow yourself (or others) to get close, you may only end up with a sanitized version of the truth. Don’t be afraid to develop meaningful relationships.
- Communicate with clarity. It is critical that you know how to cut to the chase and hit the high points, and that you expect the same from others. Without understanding the value of brevity and clarity it is unlikely that you’ll ever be afforded the opportunity to get to the granular level as people will tune you out long before you ever get there. Your goal is to weed out the superfluous and to make your words count.
- Focus on the leave-behinds not the take-aways: Simply said, when possible, try to leave the other party with something new, informative or exciting – let them feel they’ve received more from the conversation than perhaps you did. It usually leaves them wanting more exchanges with you.
- Practice your listening skills: communication is a two-way street. Otherwise, it is just a speech, plain and simple.
- Speak to groups as individuals: Leaders don’t always have the luxury of speaking to individuals in an intimate setting. Great communicators can tailor a message such that they can speak to 10 people in a conference room or 1,000 people in an auditorium and have them feel as if you were speaking directly to each one of them as an individual. Knowing how to work a room and establish credibility, trust and rapport are keys to successful interactions.
Bottom line…The leadership lesson here is that communication is largely about clarity and personalization. It’s about helping others by meeting their needs, understanding their concerns, and adding value to their world. If you can better do that, then you have become a more effective leader.
