Communicating Together

“To communicate means to build together, to think together, to partake together, and to create together.” J. Krishnamurti

Communication is an integral part of our leadership ability to build and connect with our team to encourage better relations. 

When a leader communicates effectively, everyone shares the  same vision and the goals of the organization. The employees understand how they affect the results of the organization because it’s been communicated together.

Here are some great ways to communicate together 

Share

The leader-communicator understands the need for sharing important information with his/her team. The leader’s ability to prolong trust and credibility is critical for success. 

A great way to help drive trust and credibility is to consistently share information to help your team understand the vision and the purpose of your organization. When the leader shares information, people feel more connected as it will encourage a two-way dialogue.

Involve

The leader-communicator invites people to take part in the day to day communication process. Leaders turn to others for suggestions and ideas to take the organization to a higher level. Involving people is a great motivator because everyone matters and everyone can make a difference. Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a better job.

Listen

The leader-communicator ability to listen is another area of helping people share what’s on their mind. It’s a golden opportunity to connect by doing less of the talking and just hearing people’s stories they wish to tell. Listen with empathy to make people feel understood and always appreciate their thoughts and suggestions. It’s another way to make an emotional deposit in our communication.  

Carmine Gallo, a communication coach suggests another way to encourage listening:” Asking questions makes them feel as though their opinions count. In a business setting, ask questions that move the conversation forward and that give you another opportunity to listen to the speaker. And don't interrupt when your question is being answered!”

Be open

The leader communicator must be open to feedback from everyone on their team. As more and more companies flatten their organizations charts, the more open leadership has become. Be open in a way that helps you discover a new perspective. It can be valuable to your growth and potential as a leader because you are willing to be vulnerable to hear the truth. 

As Rick Warren said, “The moment we stop learning, is the moment we stop leading.” 

The best Leaders are the best Learners. I believe that we can learn to lead, and that we can become better leaders tomorrow, than we are today.

What suggestions would you give a leader to become a better communicator?  What have you done that has been effective in communicating to a team?