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How to improve leadership communication?

by Jaques Montegolifier Chartered Accountant
Whether you are managing employees, coordinating a team of volunteers, serving on a board, or juggle your family's schedule on a daily basis, your leadership skills depend on your ability to communicate effectively with others.

Here are a few leadership communication skills that will make you a better leader, improve your relationships with others, and increase the productivity and morale of your team (or family).

Be direct, detailed and clear

Clear communication increases the likelihood of people understanding and taking action on anything you ask them to do. Over-explaining something is better than leaving space for confusion. Whenever you deliver a job or ask someone for help, focus on providing simple, actionable, and specific instructions. Preparing your thoughts in advance is helpful to include all the relevant details. Do not finish a discussion until you are confident that the other person can grasp your expectations and how to accomplish them.  Provide these directions in a fun, open way so that the other person knows they can contact you with questions of follow-up.

Look-out for nonverbal communication

A lot of research shows that nonverbal interaction is just as relevant as what a person says — maybe even more. In affirming or undermining your message, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and eye contact all play an essential role.
Whenever you talk to someone, practice being mindful of the language of your own body and the language of the person with whom you communicate. Be careful if your body language aligns with what you are saying — this will help you become a more trustworthy communicator and can help you feel more comfortable. Executive leadership training helps you to understand nonverbal communication.

Have listening skills

Practising active listening is one of the best ways to promote open and honest communication within a group. Always listen to what they are saying when someone is speaking to you. Ask follow-up questions to demonstrate that you are paying attention and to ensure that there is no miscommunication. Keep an open mind and focus on responding thoughtfully to what they say, rather than reacting to it. Active listening skills are one of the essential aspects of leadership communication.

Be self-aware

All excellent communication starts with being self-aware. You need to be mindful of your internal monologue when you interact with other people so that you don't end up taking out bad mood on someone else, assume that the other person can read your mind, be unfair, look unconfident, etc. Understanding what you're hoping to achieve from a given communication is also crucial so that you can tailor your message accordingly.

Be respectful

Prioritising open, fair, and respectful interaction within a group is one of the best strategies to promote loyalty and improve the performance of the team. Do not keep your position above others or use intimidation or paranoia as motivators. Instead, focus on bringing to every situation that emerges a truthful, optimistic and selfless attitude. Instead of an autocrat, posing as a cheerleader helps to maintain integrity and can even promote ingenuity and active problem-solving.

Each of these communication skills is an ongoing process. You're not going to master them in a day or a year. Alternatively, you will need to devote yourself to the implementation of these life tactics.  The more you put these skills into practice, the more they will begin to feel like second nature — and the more it will improve your leadership skills.

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About Jaques Montegolifier Freshman   Chartered Accountant

8 connections, 0 recommendations, 46 honor points.
Joined APSense since, June 27th, 2019, From Los Angeles, United States.

Created on Jan 15th 2020 02:46. Viewed 309 times.

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