The Point: In this article, we will list the 5 worst leadership communication skills that help you understand what kind of people are heading your departments. Of course, you cannot deal with a subject as vast and as crucial as leadership communication in one article, but here we go…
Sometimes there appears as though there is no justice in this world! One of the most glaring examples of this unwritten (and unfortunate) rule are leadership positions occupied by people that don’t seem to deserve it! What seems to be the problem? Is it a lack of leadership development? Is it that they have no communication skills training for leaders? Perhaps organizations don’t have a benchmark for true leaders, especially those that learn through leadership development how to communicate like the experts. Here are a few of the most common reasons we see:
#1 Not Instilling a Communication Channel Vision Throughout the Organization
A sign of a failed leader is the absence of providing a communication channel vision in the organization. A leader should not only craft the communication channel vision of the firm, but also communicate it horizontally throughout to motivate leaders/associates to perform better and to create sustainable value.
#2 Keeping your Team in the Dark
When you communicate with your workforce, they should be able to feel your trust in them. Executives that distance themselves from their leadership team and associates keep them in the dark about how things are run in the company. This undoubtedly gives rise to disengagement in the work place.
#3 Not Being Honest About Your Limitations
A leader doesn’t have to know everything. Emphasis on “doesn’t have to know!” In fact, true leaders, out of all people, are more thoroughly aware (and satisfied) where their strengths lie, and which aspects of their personality still need improvement (Perhaps an opportunity for an Executive Coaching arrangement, such as Centered Executive Coaching?)
So when you communicate with your leaders and associates avoid the typical leadership development ‘know-it-all’ approach. Learn to depend on other people’s expertise, and more importantly, take suggestions from the people you work with. It makes them feel valuable. You do know how to delegate such responsibilities as a leader, right?
#4 ‘My Way or the Highway’ Leaders
Leaders who can’t understand different needs of different audiences (employees, customers, shareholders, government officials etc.) fail at communication over and over again. So it is essential that you quit the “one-size-fits-all” or “my way or the highway” approaches and learn in leadership development to recognize the needs of the audience and adapt your message accordingly.
#5 Taking the Easy Way Out
Confronting a leader whose department is becoming less profitable every year, or responding to public criticism of an accident at your worksite are examples of situations where only excellent leadership communication skills can drive the company forward. Ask yourself, do you have the courage to be honest in your communication, and can you live with the fact that as a leader, you may potentially offend some people down the road?
SUMMARY
To sum up, a failed leader is one that doesn’t envision communication channels in their organization, that doesn’t provide full communication transparency (or hide organizational information from employees), isn’t afraid or scarred to ask for help, and possesses true courage!
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