Consummate leaders pay special attention to communication
Consummate leaders pay special attention to communication because it is the channel through which all relationships are realized. Communication is the most common activity for any person. Studies and research conducted in organizations show that seventy-five percent of a manager's time is spent communicating with others, whether it be talking, making phone calls, reading, writing reports, sending emails or managing conflicts. By interpersonal communication, I refer to an individual's ability to communicate, dialogue and understand others, as well as to make themselves understood. Authentic leaders are consummate masters in this area. They know what interests people, what they need and how to motivate them.
See the 11 essential communication points they use:
1. It is impossible for you not to communicate
It is important to keep in mind that everything you do and ukraine whatsapp data everything you say communicates your way of being to others. And, more importantly, everything you don’t say and everything you don’t do also communicates to the people around you. As a leader, this is vital, because everyone is watching you all the time, even if you don’t realize it. Those you lead, and other people around you, are constantly analyzing your comments and actions: how you speak, how you smile (or don’t smile), whether you pay attention to others (or not) when you talk, whether you are assertive (or not), whether you speak or hold back, whether you are impatient (or not), aggressive (or not), and so on. Therefore, it is impossible for you not to communicate, even if you are in a shell, because even by not communicating, you are telling everyone that you prefer to remain isolated rather than maintain contact.
2. Communication starts with you
Communication begins with you, but is processed and understood in the other person's mind. The question is: what and how did the other person understand what you said? Therefore, what matters is not what you say, but what the other person understands of what was said. It is essential to know how to communicate clearly, objectively and concisely. Before communicating something, clarify your own ideas and the way you want to convey them. The basic points of good communication are: objectivity (get straight to the point), clarity (go step by step, give the necessary explanations, don't mix one subject with another), conciseness (don't say in fifty words what you can say in ten, nor say in five words what you should say in twenty).
3. Listen carefully
People often think they are listening, when in fact they are thinking about what they will say as soon as the other person stops talking. Although it can be difficult at times, make a real effort to listen to what the other person is saying, because our tendency is to get busy with something rather than just listen. This impatience is because we often think we have the solution and want to put it into practice as soon as possible. True communication is a two-way street. Put aside what you were doing and look the other person in the eye, show that you are interested in what they are saying, nod your head in agreement. Let the other person know that you care about what they are saying.
4. Make the dialogue flow
Don't interrupt when the other person is speaking. Avoid aggressive or defensive attitudes, as this will only hinder the flow of the conversation and understanding. Listen to suggestions, opinions and ideas naturally and acceptingly. Above all, don't get irritated or show annoyance if others express points of view that differ from yours or agree with you. If you are going to counter-argue, do so calmly, without affectation. You will be surprised at how many new ideas and solutions arise, simply by listening.
5. Ask creative questions
Leaders who help others grow and innovate continually ask creative questions that make a difference. Asking questions is an active and creative way of probing others to grow. Listening is a receptive way of also helping people develop. These two complementary approaches are part of the growth cycle of communication. Innovative leaders who seek solutions to problems focus on asking the right questions, often generating provocative questions that force people to delve deeper into the topics under discussion. By developing other leaders through questions, they are not only helping them grow, but also helping them have unique and different experiences. Challenge others and yourself by looking for solutions from different angles. Dig deeper and deeper into experiences, perspectives, and motivations. Challenge the status quo from time to time and take the conversation to a different level than it is today. What would be the impact on your team and the organization if you asked questions whose answers would drive the company’s growth? What could this also mean in terms of the development of people and teams?
6. Be consistent between verbal and non-verbal messages
Leaders know the importance of maintaining coherence between words and actions. Professor Albert Mehrabian from the University of California has carefully researched the communication process. Studies have revealed that only 7% of the meaning of a message is conveyed verbally, while 38% is conveyed through tone of voice and 55% through body language. In other words, we communicate 93% of our message nonverbally through tone of voice, gestures, posture, the way we conduct ourselves and speak, etc. When our verbal language contradicts our nonverbal language, the result will be a distortion of communication and the other person will believe not what you said, but what they saw and felt. From that moment on, they will pay attention to our posture and ignore our words.