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Communication: Without It You Travel Alone

Developing Excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader can’t get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn’t matter – Gilbert Amelio

You can become an effective communicator by following these basic truths.

Simplify Your Message

Communication is not just what you say – it is how you say it. The key is simplicity. Do not seek to impress people with complexity. Communicate a dramatic opening. Then create a dramatic summary. Keep these two items as close together as possible.

See The Person

Effective communication focuses upon the people with whom you are communicating. Ask Who is my audience? What are their questions? What needs to be accomplished? How much time do I have to communicate?

Stay oriented to your audience. People will believe effective communicators because effector communicators believe in people.

Show The Truth

Credibility precedes communication! Here are two ways this is communicated. First believe in what you say. Excitability naturally flows when there is a personal conviction on the matter. It has been said the most powerful weapon on earth is a soul on fire. Secondly live out what you say. There is no greater credibility than conviction in action.

Seek A Response

Do not loose sight of the real reason for communication, it is to solicit a response. When you speak to people remember to give them something to feel, something to remember, and something to do. Accomplish this and you will lead people to new levels in their life.

Danto Manquez Jr., president of MVM stated, A leader must get things done through others, therefore, the leader must have the ability to inspire, motivate, guide, and direct. It is only through communication that the leader is able to cause others to internalize his or her vision and implement it.

Here are three items to assist you in your communication.

1. Be Clear – Keep your sentences short and direct. Do not follow rabbit trails. Will my audience understand my word choices. Simplicity and Clarity are your two best friends in communication.
2. Refocus Your Attention – Are you talking about yourself or is your focus on your audience. What does your audience need? Stay committed to the answer to this question.
3. Live Out Your Message – “Walk the walk – don’t just talk the talk!

On April 7, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln made a burdensome decision, and he needed to communicate it to his general in the field. On it rested all his hopes and the entire weight of his leadership as president. Using considerable as a communicator, he wrote the following:

Lieut. Gen Grant – Gen Sheridan says, “If the thing is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender.” Let the thing be pressed.

The president did not allow the importance of a piece of communication to complicate its simplicity. Neither should we.

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