The Importance of Communication in Leadership: From Flow to Force—Transform Your Team's Potential with Communication.

As leaders, the power of the words we use can have a lasting impact on our teams. Words can make the difference between someone accepting or denying a message. You can have an important thing to say, but if you use the wrong words, poof... it’s gone.

Our biggest struggle with communication is that we simply assume it happened. There are two schools of thought that explain how we perceive communication: the concepts of “Flow” and “Force.”

Science

I am a science nerd, and author John Green said, “Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff... that no one else cares about.” This is the ‘stuff’ that excites me! Using science to bridge the divide between leadership and empowering team members to work to their fullest potential, providing a scientific roadmap to guide leaders toward a unique framework of leadership.

We live in a world that is in constant motion. The physics of our environment involves dynamic motion rather than static motion. The vitality of those relationships requires constant circulation of connection and communication.

Spoken Word

We often overlook the power of the spoken word. Today, the potential for communication bias is more likely in part due to the diverse channels we use. The impact of external communications like emails and interoffice communications carries the burden that intentions are received in the manner in which we delivered the message.

The tone comes from the way you have chosen to write your thoughts and reveals your opinions. This deeply rooted cognitive dissonance sways your perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and to some degree, your values. Similarly, the things we experience in our lives are constantly moving.

Flow and Force

The ‘Flow and Force’ methodology can be explained with the example of water trying to flow through a crimped hose. Some water can flow through, but not very easily. If you intend to increase the rate at which water passes through, you have two options.

The first option is to crank up the water valve and ‘force’ more water through. This option increases the water flow but creates a whole slew of unnecessary fallout, spraying water on everyone else in proximity. This option increases anxiety, induces stress, and hastens communication.

The second option is to simply remove the crimp in the hose and let the water flow more naturally. Unbinding the hose improves flow and reduces friction so the water can flow through a more natural channel.

Channels of Communication

Altering the choice of words and the channel of communication allows the objectives to be easily understood and relatively natural for the ideation process to create frictionless processes.

Jim Rohn wrote, “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the fundamentals.”

Unfortunately, culture has taught us to grind it out, work hard, and force flow to create change. This works on occasion, like pressing to meet guidelines or hustling to wrap up the month (and there is a time and a place for it). But it can only be relied upon in short bouts because it is unsustainable.

I liken it to chasing a snowball rolling down the mountainside, gaining mass as it cascades into a landslide. Eventually, this dysfunctional momentum envelops and entombs all parties down the hillside.

In his article, [Alain Hunkins in Forbes magazine, dated January 23rd, 2022, titled: "12 Habits to Become a Better Leader ", Mr. Hunkins summarized communication flows with these 12 tips:

1. Set your intention.

2. Put people before tasks.

3. Listen.

4. Empathize.

5. Have a clear central message.

6. Ask for a receipt.

7. Be willing to say “I don’t know.”

8. Set communication boundaries.

9. To build trust, go first.

10. Create equal airtime.

11. Ask, rather than tell.

12. Build in breaks.

Moving From Force to Flow

As we pivot from ‘Force to Flow,’ we learn there is a dynamic difference in performance-related results as a byproduct of better communication. We know that high-performing teams are more diverse in their communications and, as a result, collaborate more effectively.

In a diverse work environment where the lines of communication can be blurred, leaders should learn the impact and importance of effective communication. We are influenced by our exposure and experiences, and our perspectives may be narrowed by the people we surround ourselves with. We might not even realize our experiences are outdated.

The Right Prescription

It is like looking through the lenses of an expired set of prescription glasses. It has been that way for so long that our eyes have adjusted—and we have gotten used to things as they are. Our habits have become our reality.

Until we attempt an updated prescription, we will continue to see and operate at status quo because that is all we know. It is time to update the prescription.

“Our role as leaders is to unbind the crimped lines of communication so the flow is more natural and engaging. Empowering our teammates with the flexibility and creativity to channel their best efforts.” —Joseph Clementi