Leadership Skills – The Art of Communication
Having exceptional communications skills is one of the most valuable assets of a leader. If you cannot communicate your wants and needs in a clear and concise manner, no other leadership skills will compensate for this lack. Fortunately, these skills are easily learned if you have the right coach.
Here are a few tips to help you build your competency in giving and receiving information.
Receiving Information: To be an effective listener, you need to encourage others to speak freely.
1. Use Body Language. Show interest by leaning forward, paying attention, nodding in agreement, taking notes, and so forth.
2. Be engaging. Greet new ideas with interest.
3. Be attentive. Give the individual you are speaking with your undivided attention.
4. Be focused. Maintain good eye contact throughout the conversation.
5. Be familiar. Use the individual’s name.
6. Be approachable. Smile, relax, and be friendly.
One important step that often gets overlooked is the need to verify the information. This step will insure there were no misunderstandings. You simply repeat what you thought you heard and give the other person a chance to clarify anything you may have missed or misunderstood in the conversation.
Giving Information: To be an effective communicator you must encourage active listening to insure you have gotten your message across.
1. Give clear and consise instructions.
2. Use Visuals. Many people are visual learners. The use of charts, graphs and demonstrations will help make your meaning clear.
3. Use your voice. Varying the tone of your voice will not only keep your listener’s attention, it can help you to add emphasis to important pieces of information.
4. Be understood. Do not use terminology or vocabulary that is above your listener’s comprehension. Use terms and language everyone understands.
5. Maintain eye contact. Watch for signs and body language that might indicate your listener doesn’t understand or you are losing their attention.
6. Interact. Ask questions and encourage your listener to ask questions. Never judge the quality of the question asked. Remember your goal is to get your message across and be certain it is fully understood.
If you follow these tips, you will be developing good leadership skills in effective communication. Once you are a good communicator people will naturally turn to you for advice and guidance.