Communication – The key to Successful Leadership!
It’s beginning to seem to me that we are making the art of succeeding as a leader too complicated. There are umpteen theories that all have one thing in common – they work for some and for others they don’t.
Would Virgin group be what it is today if Richard Branson hadn't mastered the art of communication?
Most people who suddenly find themselves in a leadership position swiftly realize that the top position is completely different from what they imagined. And worse, there is no manual.
There is no school for becoming a successful leader. New leaders frequently feel lonely since there are fewer people privy to high level information. It can be overwhelming. So much so that the fact that a leader’s success depends on communication is frequently forgotten.
Richard Branson is an excellent example of a very successful leader who masters the art of communication. To the extent of jumping from high buildings to get the attention needed to promote a new Virgin venture. Don’t think anybody would dispute how successful he is. But the confusion caused by all these theories and schools of leadership actually led one guy straight out of university to have the audacity to make a comment in a discussion on Linkedin that he had a lot to teach Richard Branson. Indeed? What are the odds of he, or anybody else, becoming as successful a leader as Richard is? Pretty slim, I’d say considering that very few ever become as successful as Richard Branson is. And the success of Virgin is very much down to Richard’s exceptionally good ability to communicate.
The tasks of a leader is, simply put, to vision where a company is heading (strategies, future accomplishments, managing the destiny of the organisation and so forth), find the people the organisation needs to fulfil it’s vision, make choices and take decisions. Leaders also have to continuously serve, learn, correct, evaluate and motivate.
And how are you going to succeed with all that if you don’t master the art of communication ? Both internally and externally it’s the most powerful tool a leader has. It’s crucial to communicate with others about trends that affect the future of your business and stretch your thoughts by discussing your ideas with friends, associates and other great thinkers.
Ideas are an extremely powerful force. By communicating ideas to people you engage their minds and help them see new possibilities and new opportunities. Strong and evocative ideas energize people and incite action. As leaders, our ideas are important. Leaders need clear ideas and philosophies about how to win in the marketplace, how their organisation should operate and how to develop their people.
Leaders succeed because they are able to focus and deal with the 5% of issues that are crucial, build support and create followers, put out fires fast and finish what they started. How would that be possible without communicating? Especially since many decisions are instant so a non-communicative leader would fail miserably.
Successful leaders spend much more time communicating their decision than actually taking the decision. Lots of time is also spent on coaching and motivating others. And, tedious as it can be, repeating the decision to get maximum effect. But despite that most people wrongly believe leaders spend most of their time making decisions. Leaders who only take decisions will fail miserably since communication is the key ingredient. Not communicating enough is hence the main reason for failure and not, as many believe, that they were following the wrong theory. And don’t forget that leaders live in the future so the more your communication enlightens you about tomorrow the better a leader you will be!
(Photo: Flickr linniekin)
Tags: coaching, communication, correct, decisions, destiny, discuss, evaluate, find people, focus, followers, future. choices, ideas, leadership, learn, motivating, Richard Branson, serve, strategies, success, support, vision
February 6th, 2010 at 04:09
Some good points, Catarina.
Communication is absolutely critical to leadership – something that is too often neglected. If you do not communicate properly, how do you expect to be able to inspire people to follow you?
Richard Olivier, son of the famous Shakespearean actor Sir Laurence Olivier, has written a great book called 'Inspirational Leadership' (and runs a course by the same name, which I was able to attend a few years ago). Drawing on Henry V, arguably Shakespeare's greatest leader, he shows the importance of being able to inspire in order to get he best from your people.
As the global economy emerges from the worst downturn since the last World War, leadership skills are going to be central to rebuilding businesses and the economy in general…
February 6th, 2010 at 10:34
Glad we agree Guy!
February 6th, 2010 at 11:44
[...] Thomas on Why He Skips the State of the Union | The Weekly Standard 2 Tweets Communication – The key to Successful Leadership! | Catarina's World It's beginning to seem to me that we are making the art of succeeding as a leader too [...]
February 13th, 2010 at 17:43
Excellent post. Communication is one of the most overused words in management yet the least well practised. People think they are communicating or assume everyone has gotten the message, but haven't … especially in this day of technology.
As a leader, it is key to remember that communication happens in everything we do, whether in written form or orally, one-on-one or in a meeting. It is also important to remember that if we are not communicating well internally, we are not likely doing well externally.
Cheers,
David
February 13th, 2010 at 17:46
Glad we agree David.
April 7th, 2010 at 06:48
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April 11th, 2010 at 10:36
Thank you. More to come!
April 15th, 2010 at 16:24
This is my first visit here, but I will be back soon, because I really like the way you are writing, it is so simple and honest
April 16th, 2010 at 15:27
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up! And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time!
April 16th, 2010 at 14:23
Thank you. At least it's something that you agree with my opinion regarding leadership
April 18th, 2010 at 00:24
I couldn’t agree more…
April 18th, 2010 at 12:54
Yes, it’s amazing how communication is frequently overlooked when it comes to leadership isn’t it?
April 18th, 2010 at 17:00
Your blog is so informative … keep up the good work!!!!
April 19th, 2010 at 12:29
Thank you. Glad you like my blog.
April 27th, 2010 at 17:06
Leaders don't seem to have too much trouble telling the rest of us what they think we ought to do.
April 28th, 2010 at 10:15
Rashid most likely the "leaders" you refer to are not leaders but managers. There is a huge difference between leading and managing.
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:43
Not sure how a leader can be visionary, inspiring and really sell his/her message without communicating?
May 3rd, 2010 at 14:00
If people say his message is a bad one, that he misled his followers.
May 3rd, 2010 at 14:22
Arnold, then he is communicating, albeit in a dishonest way.
May 3rd, 2010 at 14:22
Arnold, then he is communicating, albeit in a dishonest way.
May 5th, 2010 at 13:20
Wonderful thing I have learned. Please keep it up and expecting further like this. Too many managers forget how to communicate.