Communication and Leadership

If I had to pick one specific trait that is true with all great leaders and great people, it is the ability to communicate with their team and other individuals. If you have read any leadership books, many will say that everything rises and falls on leadership. While this may be true for some organization's, for me, leadership rises and falls on communication. If you lead a team or are thinking about it, I would say you need to set some standards to follow and live by these standards as you communicate with your team. This is what I try to do with my team that I'm fortunate to lead:

Be Consistent. Nothing frustrates a team and the team members more when leaders cannot make up their minds. One thing that has helped me with the teams I have been fortunate to lead and help win over the team was the consistency of my communication. My team always knows they can depend on me and what was said regardless of the topic. We are all aligned.

Be Clear. Your team cannot execute if the members don't know what you want. Do not try to dazzle anyone with what you might think is your intelligence. Instead, impress people with your straightforwardness. You are the compass for your team, set the course for them to be successful.

Be Courteous. Everyone deserves to be shown respect, no matter what the position or what kind of history you might have with them. By being courteous to your team, you set the tone for the entire team or organization. You earn respect by showing respect.

Never forget that because you may be in a leadership role, your communication sets the tone for the interaction among your team. The team always reflects their leaders. Also, never forget that good communication is never one-way. It should never be top-down or dictatorial as well. The best leader and as well as the best people, listen, invite and encourage participation. Active listening is so key and such a lost art these days.

So I challenge you all out there, starting today be aware that your communication is setting the tone with the people you lead and interact with.