Why Communication is the Foundation of Leadership by Peter DeCaprio
Leaders provide direction and vision, but it’s up to employees to execute. What keeps employees engaged and moving in the right direction? How do you inspire your team when you know that some of them will be unhappy no matter what you say or do? The answer is simple: communicate effectively with all members of your team.
In their Harvard Business Review article, “Three Keys to Better Leadership Communication,” Laura MacLeod and Joanne Gordon make a strong case for why clear communication can make or break an organization.
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In fact, they believe it is the foundation of leadership success. They write:
“Effective leaders must convey a compelling vision—a mental picture of an ideal future state that engages followers’ emotions and motivates them to act. A vision is powerful when it inspires people to want to follow you—and do what you ask them to do. It’s hard, though, for leaders to be inspiring if followers can’t understand where they are trying to lead.”
MacLeod and Gordon go on to make the case for why effective communication requires leaders who are skilled not only at understanding others but at overcoming barriers within themselves. As they state, “to connect with your audience, you must first connect with yourself … many of the barriers that prevent us from effectively leading others are ones we carry inside ourselves.”
Leadership calls for self-awareness and openness. When an individual is guarded or unwilling to engage in honest dialogue regarding how he or she feels about a particular topic, it can be incredibly difficult to engage in meaningful communication says Peter DeCaprio.
Effective leaders meet this challenge by fostering an open environment where their employees feel comfortable sharing thoughts, opinions, ideas or concerns. As MacLeod and Gordon write, “If you are a leader who has trouble connecting with others because of issues that keep surfacing when you try to communicate, the solution may not be for you to change your behavior but rather to acknowledge what is going on inside yourself.”
The first step toward overcoming internal barriers is recognizing them. When leaders are self-aware enough to recognize why they are struggling to communicate with members of their team, the organization as a whole benefits. This provides an opportunity for leaders at all levels within the company—not just those who actually possess the communication skills to do so—to contribute.
When a company is able to offer a safe haven for open dialogue, all employees benefit from the increased understanding they have of their workplace and fellow team members. MacLeod and Gordon also make a case for how this type of open communication can be especially beneficial when it comes to professional development:
“As you get better at listening and reflecting back what you hear, people begin to trust that you value them regardless of whether or not they agree with you.”
This is vital in any work environment where constructive criticism may not always be welcomed or expressed. An employee who feels his voice is heard regardless of where he stands on an issue will likely feel more committed to the organization than one who does not feel safe sharing his points of view.
What are the benefits to leaders who communicate effectively?
“People perform better when they believe in what they are doing,” MacLeod and Gordon explain. “They are more creative, generate more ideas, innovate, problem-solve, enhance retention rates, build stronger teams—and ultimately improve performance.”
Leaders who can establish an open dialogue with their employees gain not only their respect but that of their colleagues. It is easy for a leader to be beloved by some team members while being distrusted by others. This lack of consistency makes it difficult for the leader to convince anyone on her team that following her vision will benefit them personally. Those whose opinions are valued do not have to choose between supporting the plan and acting against the interests of their colleagues.
When leaders are able to establish an environment where all voices are welcome, it becomes much easier for them to communicate their vision. This shared understanding allows employees to trust that they are being led in a direction that will benefit them as well as the organization as a whole.
Leaders who understand how to connect with others do so by establishing clear lines of communication and maintaining open dialogue at all times. It requires self-awareness, empathy and vulnerability—which can be challenging for many people—but the benefits to the entire team make it worth the effort. Team members feel respected when they know their opinions matter.
As with most things, the first step is recognizing there is a problem. Whether you are not connecting with your team or they are not connecting with you, bringing it up can help foster open dialogue and ultimately improve performance within the group.