A crucial quality of a good leader is the ability to communicate effectively. In order to achieve results through others, leaders need to be skilled at communicating with others in a variety of settings and relationships, including with individuals, at the organizational level, in communities and groups, and sometimes even globally. What is communication in leadership?
Communication in leadership, including verbal, nonverbal, and written messages, is how leaders inform and inspire others. Effective communication in leadership is essential for everything from giving instructions and feedback to direct reports to sharing the vision with employees to mediating conflicts with teams to providing updates to stakeholders. Why is it important for leaders to communicate? Communication is one of the “fundamental four” core leadership skills that we at CCL consider essential for leaders in any position, industry, or location. Leaders need to be able to think clearly, share ideas, and communicate with a wide range of people. They must also deal with the rapid exchange of information within the organization as well as among coworkers, clients, partners, vendors, and others. Through their daily interactions with others, managers are able to deepen connections, establish trust, and inspire creativity and innovation through effective leadership communication. It also helps during change or disruption, as communication is one of 3 critical competencies that our research has found are essential for successful change leadership.
The Relationship Between Culture, Conversations, and Communication Conversations are the foundation upon which the majority of communication in organizations is built, as employees communicate each day through formal and informal conversations with coworkers and leaders. Better conversations lead to better culture, so the stronger their organizations become, the more effective these conversations are. Authenticity
Be sincere and honest. Find your own voice; avoid using corporate-speak or sounding like someone you’re not. Let who you are, where you come from, and what you value come through in your communication. People want and respect authentic leadership, and they will follow it. Be real, not eloquence. Forget about it. Don’t try to hide who you are. People will never willingly follow someone they feel is inauthentic.
Accessibility
A form of communication is visibility. Be approachable if you want to communicate effectively. Emails and official correspondence are insufficient. Be present, visible, and available. Being “out there” consistently and predictably reveals your leadership qualities to others. People need to see and feel who you are to feel connected to the work you want them to do. Even (and especially) if you need to communicate with all of your stakeholder groups during a crisis, find ways to interact with them. Clarity and self-assurance When you communicate with your team, it helps to avoid ambiguity, misinterpretation, and confusion by being clear and confident. Speak in specifics, use nonverbal communication to augment your words, and speak not just with facts but also with feelings and values. Speaking clearly and confidently builds trust and commitment among your team members. Empathy & Respect
Effective leadership requires empathy, and this extends to communication. Employees value compassionate leadership and demand empathy from their leaders. When you speak to them, acknowledge their emotions and areas of discomfort. This will make them feel valued and heard, fostering a strong culture of psychological safety. Trust
You can’t force trust; it comes from consistently demonstrating your commitment to improving communication with coworkers. By modeling the values you hope to foster in your team and in your organization, you can build trust. In addition, by establishing trust, you encourage others to communicate more openly, fostering a work environment that promotes psychological safety. When people feel safe with their team and organization, they’re more open to sharing ideas and taking risks, which can lead to more creativity and more innovation.
