Abracadabra!!!
What a great leader speaks is what he creates! A leader is like a magician who makes great things possible by getting his people to believe and do what he tells them. A great leader is a great communicator. He makes things happen!
Think of one great leader in the world, or maybe just somebody that you know in your workplace whom you admire as he is a good boss. Now, isn’t he an excellent communicator? When he talks about his ideas or share his wisdom, he seems to be speaking to your emotions, he seems to know what’s going on inside your mind and he seems to hit your heart, bulls-eye!
Harnessing the Magic of Leadership Communication
The ability to communicate with clarity, whether verbal or non-verbal, is one of the most important skills that a true leader must have. Every one of us is actually born with the potential but only a few have mastered it. And with the current world that is constantly changing and distracted due to technologies and digitalization, it seems to be getting more and more difficult to communicate clearly.
Every leader at any level needs to understand that communication is more than sending and receiving information. In fact, communication is complex and critical to the success of the organization.
Effective Communication is Essential to Good Leadership
We could actually say that effective communication is equal to effective leadership. Leaders should know that to be able to direct people, they must be skilled in sending out their message. Leaders must be able to think, speak and act with clarity.
So how do we begin the magic of leadership through proper communication? Here are 7 magical tricks that leaders may infuse in conveying their messages to their people.
Magic #1
- The Magic of Personal Touch. Get to know your people. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, and most of us would agree that there is actually some truth in it, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” To be able to know what your people think and feel, leaders must strive to develop genuine relationships with them. This is a great way to engage with people to have more effective conversation.
Magic #2
- The Magic of Words. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Simplify what you want to convey. It is very important that leaders know how to stop beating around the bush and go direct to the point. Be specific, simple and concise to avoid ambiguity. In short, communicate with clarity.
Magic #3
- The Magic of Vision and Inspiration. Communicate with a servant’s heart. Focus on what you can give than what you can get. A great leader communicates his ideas and aligns expectations, and motivates their people to accomplish their needs and aspirations.
Magic #4
- The Magic of an Open Mind. Listen to criticisms. Be willing to discuss and learn from your people who have opposing views. Welcome those who oppose you, contradicts your ideas, challenge you and disagrees with you. In short, your goal is to understand what is on their minds.
Magic #5
- The Magic of Empathy. Speak with genuine concern. Show your people that you speak to them with levels of authenticity and transparency. You gain respect and trust by being true to them.
Magic #6
- The Magic of Action. Action speaks louder than words. It is more than what you say, it’s also what you do. Competence and execution complete your role as a leader. Great leaders address both the “what” and “how”, thus, it’s a matter of substance over form.
Magic #7
- The Magic of Individuality. Talk to groups like they’re individuals. When you speak directly to one person in the group, he will feel as if you’re talking to him. It is one way of establishing credibility, trust, and sincerity, thereby developing great interactions.
Truly, the job of a leader is more difficult than that of a magician. The leader communicates to inspire his people and make them believe that they can turn their dreams into great goals and make them come true.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince) stated: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”