Want to be a successful leader? Communicate effectively

Being a leader means having things done through other people. Effective communication and effective leadership, are closely intertwined hence communication is an essential leadership skill and the first step to becoming a great leader. As a leader, you need to communicate flawlessly to your team members and the people outside your circle so that they can clearly understand what is expected of them. Good communicators are authentic, engaging, good listeners and they stand out from the crowd.  

Looking back in history, it’s evident that great leaders are always great communicators. We know of great people such as Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King and Franklin Roosevelt who led great nations by the powers of their words and presentation. On the other hand, when we look at the fall of some leaders, we can attribute it to the wrong choice of words when speaking and generally the inability to communicate effectively.

The following are the key principles of effective leadership communication that fuel collaboration and success

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1.     Listening

Communication is two-way and good communicators are also good listeners. When you listen well, you understand other peoples’ viewpoints. Listening also nurtures trust, respect, and openness. Effective listening helps you build good relationships, solve problems and improve accuracy. Taking a moment to listen to other people goes a long way in making you more productive.  Leaders with poor listening skills will often be met with resistance as they are seen as dictators and this cuts people’s loyalty

2.     Authenticity.

Authentic leaders are positive people who promote openness, are genuine, self-aware and sincere. Find your own voice and learn to display who you really are as a person. Let who you are, where you come from, and what you value most come through in your communication. Forget about being eloquent and worry about being real because people want and respect real. Also, people are more apt to trust you when your actions match your words. Even better, lead by example.

3.Visibility

Thanks to technology, there are various means of communicating but face to face communication with people is still the best. Human connection is a matter of proximity. If you want to build a lasting connection with people don’t be out of sight. Don’t be known only by your emails and phone calls. Show up in person as often as possible. People need to see and feel who you are to get connected.  Leaders who came to power as poor communicators and they can’t communicate directly to people, feel the danger within no time and they end up getting people to communicate on their behalf, while they are somehow invisible.

4. Trust.

Stephen M.R. Covey once said that the first job that a leader has is to inspire trust and to bring out the best in people by entrusting them with meaningful stewardships and to create an environment in which high-trust interaction inspires creativity and possibility. Also, people should be able to trust you as a leader, as it increases commitment and boosts the flow of ideas thus increasing creativity and productivity.

In conclusion, words are known to win hearts and minds. Good relationships are dependent on good communication if you cannot communicate effectively as a leader then you are probably going to fail. People in leadership positions are challenged to polish their communication skills through training and practice.