Leadership Skills: Four Cs of Effective Communication

All leaders face times when they realize what they say has a potential to change the tide. Sometimes it's to abate worry and instill confidence during mergers or company crises. At other times it may be to drive behavior or implement new procedures under new leadership or during change initiatives. When all eyes are watching-and it seems everyone wants answers for something-effective communication shifts from a soft skill to a priority management tool.

I believe that communication is always more than a soft skill. It's a core skill, even a strategic skill. It is arguably the most important leadership skill you can have. After all, communication drives connection and deepens relationships-and an organization's success really comes down to people and what they can accomplish. Almost every business problem can be solved through communication. Why? Because communication is what will ultimately get obstacles out of the way, resolve conflicts, and get more than one mind working together on solutions.

What makes a leader more effective as a communicator? What are the key elements that will carry leadership communication through the many twists and turns that rise on every road? It starts with mastering core principles-the bricks that help lay a foundation for powerful leader communication.

Integrating these Four Cs of powerful communication will help you elevate your impact as a leader:

Clear

Effective communication is clear and simplistic. Drop the jargon and innuendos. Don't over explain. Don't leave room for interpretation. Have the courage to be open, direct and explicit. Say what you want. Say what you expect. State your deadlines and desired outcomes.

In today's business climate, e-mail is a primary platform where we see unclear communication. How many times have you slogged through long or poorly written messages wondering where the point is buried? Or how about those e-mails with multiple recipients and no clear action item or identified action taker?

It happens face-to-face as well. How often have you heard a manager say she'd like to hear some progress at some point? Or heard a team leader say he'd like a full update? Would you know what either expects of you? And by when?

Unclear expectations or directions are leading causes of frustration for managers and employees alike. Don't leave them wondering about what you're saying-and don't leave yourself open to disappointment when they interpret vague language as lack of importance. State what you need. Say what you want to happen and by when.

Consistent

Mixed messages confuse people and create chaos. When a leader's actions are not consistent with what he says, people feel used and de-motivated. At the organizational level, every channel of communication requires consistency. The employee newsletter article on the upcoming layoff should be consistent with what the director has been saying at employee meetings. Also remember to think of how consistent your communication is with your stated values and priorities. If you say transparency is a value, your communication style should reflect that. This applies to behaviors as well. A leader who tells others that interrupting is a pet peeve, but who has a tendency to lose his patience and interrupt others, appears inconsistent and insincere. Take the time to align messages and be sure you're conveying the same message over time.

Concise

Concise communication reinforces clarity and often helps us stay on message and remain consistent. However, it can also be the hardest principle to follow. Mark Twain once wrote that if he had the time, he would have written a shorter letter. In the complex business environments we face today, it's easy to empathize with his lament.

Concision provides guardrails that keep us on track. It also helps us be clear and communicate more directly. It requires discipline though, especially when we're conveying something complex or emotionally charged. At those times, we tend to want to explain in great detail and then we create word clutter.

Practice being concise by writing and speaking in shorter sentences. Take the time to plan ahead and think before you speak. Try leading with the central theme when speaking in person or in groups. Get comfortable with moments of silence.

Complete

Remember that communication hasn't happened just because you said something. Communication refers to a cycle of a message from a sender to a receiver. If you want to increase your communication effectiveness, it's important to gather ongoing feedback. As I alluded to earlier, failed communication is often a cause of great frustration. Take responsibility for the communication you intend. Understand how to read and gather feedback, so that you can learn how effectively you are received. We've all had that experience where we think we are expressing humor when another person experiences our words as sarcastic, mean or just plain flat. The same phenomena can occur when communicating ideas. What seems obvious to us may be difficult for others to see or comprehend. More importantly, they may be unable to listen because they sense insincerity or duplicity. If they can't listen because they think you don't care, you're not yet communicating. Find ways to gather and measure feedback so that you know that each communication cycle has completed.

Clarity, consistency, concision and completeness. These four foundation elements can strengthen your communication confidence. As basic as they are though, it can be incredibly difficult to keep them all in mind. What are some steps you can take to increase your effectiveness in these areas and improve your communication power?

Vicki Rich is a leadership, business and & career coach based in Columbus, Ohio, who works with clients nationwide. She inspires people and organizations to 'level up' their performance by leading with a clear direction, taking consistent action and communicating more powerfully.

With more than 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing and strategic communication management in both the public and private sectors, Vicki understands how to create solutions, get things done and drive results. She is recognized for her insightful questions, calm presence and focus on tangible solutions.

Vicki's expertise enables her to help simplify complex issues, identify barriers and develop consistent action plans for improved performance and processes. She also enjoys helping people increase their own personal satisfaction through greater use of the talents and resources they have to offer.

Te learn more about Vicki and coaching, visit http://www.reachnextlevel.com.


 By Vicki Rich


Article Source: Leadership Skills: Four Cs of Effective Communication