5 essential communication tips for leadership success
Photo: Unsplash.com @campaign_creators
Being revered as an effective leader is the hallmark of a successful business career, and many managers are seeking to achieve this level of excellence.
Influential leaders are open and ready to learn, grow, and nurture others to attain dedicated followers.
To reach this elevated level of success, it is necessary to know how to communicate sincerely and effectively with your followers.
In essence, you must upgrade and improve your communication skills. The following five communication tips will help you do just that!
Communication Tip #1: Listen before you speak
Effective communication begins with actively listening to your peers, team members, and employees.
As you listen with intention and gather information from others, you can then provide appropriate answers and participate in productive discussions.
Also, strive to ask the right questions and carefully listen to the answers, thus allowing others to finish expressing their thoughts before you jump in.
Be committed to the practice of actively listening at least two to three times more than you talk to others.
Pro Tips
Listening builds a connection with others and is the foundation of healthy relationships.
Strong relationships for effective leadership are imperative for networking, collaboration, and progress.
Leaders with strong relationships and communication skills achieve substantial improvement in their careers and make upward progress within their organizations.
“God gave us two ears and one mouth so we could listen twice as much as we talk.”
- unknown
Communication Tip #2: Make eye contact to communicate a positive connection
When talking with others, be sure to make appropriate eye contact. You don’t want to stare at others and lock eyes, which is intimidating. Nor do you want to avoid eye contact, which will create a lack of trust.
Making intermittent eye contact is the key while communicating your ideas and requests, which increases rapport and trust with others.
Pro Tips
Do not multitask (looking at your phone, computer, watch, etc.) when talking to others. It says you aren’t paying attention and is a communication killer.
Appropriate eye contact communicates caring, connection, and comfort between people, which is the foundation for interpersonal rapport and solid working relationships.
“The eyes are the windows of the soul.”
- Guillaume Du Bartas
Photo: Unsplash.com @katekalvach
Communication Tip #3: Smile to create safety and interpersonal rapport
It is important to smile when first greeting others and throughout your conversation, as it is appropriate.
Smiling creates a positive introduction and experience and elicits safety, rapport, and trust between people.
Make your discussions positive ones by taking advantage of these opportunities to display warmth and a friendly demeanor.
Pro Tips
Without trust and safety, honest and productive relationships are virtually unattainable.
Try practicing your smile in the mirror or on a camera before presenting a speech or attending a virtual event.
Reading a positive affirmation also helps create a sense of happiness and confidence.
When it is time to talk with others, you are already in the smile zone!
“A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your face value.”
- Lee Stoltzfus, Ph.D.
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Communication Tip #4: Seek feedback from your team members
Being a leader who cares about their team members and who makes sure they have the tools and supplies needed to do their job has been shown to dramatically increase employee commitment, engagement, customer service, and profitability.
It’s imperative to seek feedback from your team members on how they are doing and how things are going.
The information you gather is invaluable in supporting others in doing their job well, and providing the materials and support needed for job success and satisfaction.
Pro Tips
Intentionally schedule a percentage of time and speak with your team members about their projects, goals, and needs.
Planning for productive communication with your team members to express their concerns allows you to support and empower them, while encouraging their participation within the organization.
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
-Dr. Ken Blanchard, author of “The One Minute Manager”
Communication Tip #5: Project a positive mindset
All leaders will have the opportunity to communicate happy and positive messages.
However, leaders are responsible for facing problems, challenges, and obstacles that must be shared. But don’t focus just on the difficulty of the situation.
When negative experiences occur, embrace a positive mindset to communicate an outcome of success to ease your team's challenges and doubts.
Be aware that there might be naysayers who will doubt your words.
While life and business are challenging, envision working through these difficulties head-on with confidence and faith to encourage your team’s significant advances.
Pro Tips
For a great example of practicing and communicating positivity, consider Thomas A. Edison's mindset and his quest to invent the lightbulb.
Edison reportedly experimented with over 1000 possibilities before succeeding in developing the incandescent light bulb.
Edison kept a positive attitude rather than give in to his doubt and frustration and never communicated that he would give up on his goals!
“Being positive doesn’t just make you better; it makes everyone around you better.”
- Jon Gordon, author of "The Energy Bus"
Conclusion
Try to use these communication tips daily to enhance your leadership success. After implementing these five potent tips, I would like to hear how they worked for you and which one is your favorite go-to!
Contact me to set up a free 15-minute strategy call for your executive coaching sessions!
