The A-Z of Leadership: Communication

C is for communication. If leadership is 80% soft skills and 20% technical skills, then part of communication would be in that 20%, but only partly because without empathy communication is not effective.

There is no question in my mind that to become a great leader you have to learn to excel in the art of communication. As a leader your role is to inspire your team to work to achieve common goals and these have to be communicated effectively. In my opinion poor communication or lack of it, is the biggest single cause of problems in any organisation.

Good communication is clear, accurate, complete & concise. The recipient must believe it to be reliable, it must be approriate to the audience and as courteous as the situation allows.

Communication is a two-way street. Learn how to listen actively. Great leaders know when to talk and, just as importantly, when to listen. Active listening doesn’t come naturally to most people, we need to make a conscious effort not to just hear what people are saying but to take it in, digest it and understand. Show that you care by asking for your team member’s opinions, ideas and feedback. Actively engage in the conversation – ask open-ended questions, invite them to elaborate and take notes. This is a great motivator and you’ll learn a lot about your team.

Cheers, Nick