We believe that leaders are responsible for ensuring effective communication in their organization. Communication is a people process, so it is complex, but in the end, communication is a message sent and a message received. Leaders who are exceptional communicators understand this, and they adapt their style to their audience, and provide communication in multiple ways, not the least of which is their presence, emotions, and body language. This ensures that the message received is the message sent.
However, good communication can only happen with the right groundwork – poor communication is often a symptom of other issues starting with trust. Building communication capability in an organization means building the capability and capacity of the leaders in the organization.
The five steps shown below are the groundwork that set leaders up for clear communication with their teams. Equipping leaders with these emotional intelligence and core leadership skills takes time and a committed organization, but once in place, trust improves and so does communication, engagement, and productivity.
Step 1. Self-Reflection and Recognition:
Recognize the need for improvement in leadership skills and a shift from being an individual contributor to a leader. Acknowledge the frustration and self-esteem challenges that may arise from struggling in the leadership role.
Step 2. Purposeful Presence:
Increase your self-awareness and ensure that you present a purposeful presence in the moment. Your presence has an oversized impact on how your messages are received.
Step 3. Create and Implement New Engaging Habits:
Actively cultivate a new habit of empowering team members by listening, asking questions, and facilitating their problem-solving. This new habit will contribute to a more open and constructive communication environment within the team.
Step 4. Listen With Purpose:
Train yourself to listen to understand rather than respond. Listening with curiosity will keep you and the other person more engaged and you will increase your understanding of their message.
Step 5. Align team goals with the organization’s:
Encourage and facilitate team members to set individual objectives that support their own aspirations and support the organization’s goals. This common context allows for easier communication and better understanding when discussing how to move the organization forward.
Connect with us today to learn more about how to develop true leadership capacity in your organization.
