A leader has many responsibilities, but the one that pulls everything together and is perhaps the most important is the need to communicate effectively. We can have the greatest ideas, but if we cannot effectively communicate internally and externally, those ideas become valueless.
Whether you lead a company, a finance department, or a sales team, you need to communicate your vision and expectations and serve as a source of inspiration for your team. Leaders engage others through effective communication. When team members are engaged, their productivity increases, valuable ideas are generated, and your company’s bottom line grows.
Effective leaders communicate timely, quickly, honestly, and consistently. They are specific in their message, are prepared, and personalize the subject matter.
Many think of communicating as imparting their views and wisdom on others: you talk and your team members listen. However, this is only part of the process. Perhaps more importantly, you need to be a good listener who demonstrates empathy and a sense of situational awareness. Put yourself in the person’s shoes with whom you are communicating. When you do this you build trust, instill a sense of commitment, and encourage open and honest dialogue with your team members.
If you desire to get everyone on your team moving in the same direction, provide a source of information for decision making, clarify expectations, and motivate and inspire team members, then make effective communication a key part of your culture. It should be a skill that all must display. Employ such a culture and watch your bottom line grow.
All great leaders understand the importance of effective communication in accomplishing an organization’s or departments goals. Are you up to the challenge of making changes in how you communicate?
Stephen W. Christian is a director at Kreischer Miller. Contact him at Email or 215.441.4600.
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