communication skills training for leaders

The Point: Competition for the C-Suite is fierce. In order to compete effective (and Win!), you need every advantage you can get. At Tip of the Spear, we’ve seen a few good leaders, and far more that fall into other categories (i.e., Bad Leaders). If you genuinely want to excel as a leader (especially in terms of leadership communication skills), you shouldn’t ignore the traits of successful people around you. In this post we’ve done the competitive analysis and will share how other leaders might be communicating more effectively than you!

The following is a list of 10 ways your peers communicate better than you do as a leader (Are you considering some communication skills training for leaders as part of your individual leadership development plan? You might after you consider them!):

#1 They Solve Problems

Analyzing situations and coming up with solutions that no one else could decipher is a mark of true leadership. Excellent communication skills training for leaders involves helping clients and employees to understand the solution. In this respect, the leader becomes the teacher/detective/solution sluth.

#2 They Understand Their Audience

There is no one-size-fits-all leadership development approach. True leaders know the unique needs of their audience and respond to them effectively. If you, on the other hand, don’t care what people want and consider what you say to be holy writ, you will see your circle of influence falling way short sooner or later.

#3 They Don’t Play Safe

Leaders are thinkers and innovators. Nothing appeals to them more than new challenges and opportunities, the majority of which can be simulated in leadership development. There are many people in this world who are born in comfortable households and receive good schooling, and they excel at their academics. However, the corporate world (or even the non-profit sector for that matter) hardly sees any stability nowadays. It is how you stay true to your vision (see point 4) and teach your team to do so in changing climates that defines where/how you stand as a leader.

#4 They Ingrain Their Vision in Their Organization

No organization can sail the tides and reach the heights of success without a well-defined vision. It is the job of leader to share with their employees what direction the company has to take, and what should be their contribution in it.

#5 They Take the Initiative

A leader is the one who gets things started. They delegate, but don’t leave the business on auto-pilot. As a leader, you have to identify the unique skills of each employee, and then use him/her in the most effective means possible in executing initiative.

#6 They Are Always Available

To use an example from popular fiction, imagine Batman not answering the bat signal because he is catching up on his reading. That would be disastrous for Gotham City. As a leader of the organization, you should always be available to address the questions and concerns of employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

#7 They Assume Responsibility

Effective leadership communication entails that you don’t hide behind your company, but rather become its ‘poster’ representative in the face of controversy. This means you should be honest about personal mistakes, as well as of those successes that work in your organization.

#8 They Strive to Learn

Leaders never stop learning. While many executives enroll for leadership development communication skills training programs, there are several ways you can learn on-the-job, and a one of the most effective tips in this regard is to listen more to what people around and under you have to say about business issues.

#9 They Instill Positivity

Times can be tough, and some decisions are simply impractical. However, there is a way to deal with such situations and decisions without sounding negative. Instead of frowning on missed opportunities, focus more on the lessons learned and take corrective action.

#10 They Think Before They Speak

Great leaders know how to use the right word in the right manner at the right time. They don’t fill their speech with jargon, and they don’t speak more than they have to.

Summary – 10 Ways Your Peers Communicate Better Than You Do as a Leader

There is a lot that you can learn from your peers in terms of communicating effectively with your team, your customers and partners, and the society at large. You should take advantage of communication skills training for leaders to gain a competitive advantage!

To learn more about Tip of the Spear’s “Communicate with Influence” communication skills training for leaders series CLICK HERE.

The Point: Do you want to excel in leadership communication? Let it be known from the onset that it is not an easy job. When you are in a position of authority, your words are like fired bullets, i.e. they will do their damage, and there is nothing you can do to take them back. You’ll want to insure that your “bullets” as well as direction are on target (That’s why you have to be really careful about what you say and how you say it!) The following are 5 tips to communication skills training for leaders excellence that you will find useful in this regard… Enjoy!

#1 Choose your Words Wisely

Words are economy for leaders. Choose the wrong words, and risk losing customers and demotivating employees. Your leadership communication should be succinct, clear, and to-the-point. Whether you are speaking or writing, always go over your material and do rigorous editing, leaving only those words that you think will truly be beneficial to the intended audience. And yes, eliminate ‘umms’ and ‘you knows’ from your vocabulary! (A tip from Toastmasters International)

#2 Don’t Insult the Intelligence of Others

Bad leadership communication treats audiences like they’re kids. They give instructions and share information with the assumption that employees firstly wouldn’t understand, and even if they do, they can’t be trusted to keep it confidential.

This is leadership folly! An organization is judged by the people that work in it (Unless your organization hires dishonest people that lack basic intelligence… But that’s not you/your organization, right?) True leaders know the more honest and open they are with their employees, the more trust, and the more efficiently the company performs.

#3 Communicate Goals Lucidly

While you are to treat employees as responsible and intelligent adults, you still have to tell them in plain-language what you require from them. This is especially true if you want to empower your workforce. Tell them the areas where you would like to see them improve, and if you want them to suggest more, recommend the kind of ideas you are looking for.

#4 Be Open About Your Mistakes (You Do Make Mistakes, Right?)

Exhibit an understanding attitude when you ( or others) say or do something wrong. Leaders are human after all! No one is expecting you not to make mistakes. What people want to see instead of laying blame elsewhere or glossing over these moments is honesty from your side when this happens, how you learn from your mistakes, and drive the organization forward.

#5 Trust Others

This coincides with point 2 (Don’t Insult the Intelligence of Others). Companies thrive on meaningful efforts of their employees, and this only happens when they are kept informed. Withholding information deeming it ‘too sensitive’ only hinders this process.

Summary

If you’re looking to improve your leadership communication skills, follow these leadership communication skills training tips to improve. For more information on the Leadership Communication offerings available at Tip of the Spear, CLICK HERE.

The Point: Communication (excellent communication to be precise) is the most distinguishable trait of true leaders. Poor communication not only can end your career as a C-suite executive, but can cost your business significant dollars every year. If you think that a lack of communication is what is keeping your company in shackles, here a list of 10 quick tips about leadership communication that you can incorporate in your leadership… Enjoy!

 

#1 The Person Behind the Title

True leadership is not when people follow you for your position in the organizational hierarchy, but for your personal integrity and vision. So be humble, deliver your vision with stories (they can be personal stories as well), and don’t forget to keep a sense of humor. In communication skills training for leaders, we work on these exact skills. Bottom line… Let those you lead see you as the person you are, not the one your trying to be!

#2 Know Your Audience

Great leaders know how to deliver their message to different audiences without altering the message in the process. Likewise, they also know the unique personalities of everyone on their team so they can utilize their skills to customize delivery to the fullest potential. Practice makes perfect in leadership development. Bottom line… Customize your message based on the audience your interacting with.

#3 Interaction, Not Dictation

Great leaders know how to generate audience feedback during a lecture or speech, so that everyone is listening attentively. Think of it as an engagement level that you’re trying to get your audience to participate with you actively. Bottom line… If you want better communication with your audience, get them to listen to your message by engaging them.

#4 Give Up the Jargon

There is a popular saying attributed to Einstein: ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough’. While this may not be an all-encompassing principle for leadership communication, it can help you explain why a meeting, keynote, or coffee conversation failed: the audience simply didn’t get what you were trying to say. Bottom line… Strive for clarity, and avoid using technical language (where you can) or overcomplicating your message unless necessary.

#5 A Great Opening

In both speeches and publications, it the opening that determines whether the audience will continue following or not. So make sure to create a strong opening and follow it through with succinct, to-the -point comments, and memorable information. Bottom line… Start of in the direction you want with power (Oh yeah, you might want to practice as well!)

#6 Avoid Negativity

Studies in psychology have shown that negative words like ‘no’ and ‘cannot’ have a toxic effect on the human brain. They not only demotivate your employees, but also ward off prospective clients. Bottom line… Make positivity your mantra flow from your words.

#7 Take Responsibility

If anything goes wrong in your organization, it is you that has to take responsibility. Whether in addressing any audience, publishing a retraction, or sending an apology email if you said it initially (or someone in your organization did), then it’s your “baby” to rock. Bottom line… Assure people that no matter what happens, you are in control through your actions and words.

#8 Work on Your Body Language

Remember that verbal communication accounts for less than 10% of what you actually convey. Bottom line… Make sure that you are paying attention to your facial and body gestures as you speak.

#9 Listen More, Speak Less

Two ears, one mouth… You can see where this leadership communication tip is going, right? This cannot be stressed enough. When you listen to your employees, partners, and audiences, you not only get different perspectives on business issues, but you also make them feel valuable. Bottom line… Spend more time listening for effective leadership communication.

#10 Empathize

Finally, learn to empathize. CEOs, for instance, are typically seen as unapproachable. Change that. Bottom line… Communicate with empathy and care. You will ultimately see “loyalty” increase in the people around you.

SUMMARY

True leadership communication skills involve building personal trust and rapport with your audience, and conveying your message with clarity, in a way that they truly understand. The old adage of “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them” will only go so far (But it’s a great model to follow!) Follow these 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Leadership Communication for success!