Why does communicating clearly matter?

The success of any leader in working with and influencing those around them depends on how good their interpersonal skills are. If a leader is able to form a connection with the people he or she interacts with – through gestures, through communication style – the easier the task of leadership becomes. The most successful leaders not only possess an aura of authority, but also employ the following skills:

1. Making others feel special

Never underestimate the power of a genuine compliment, a ‘well done’ or ‘congratulations’. Positive words make people feel special. Great leaders have the power to make others feel connected to them and not just with words. They use body language, maintaining eye contact, for instance, therefore conveying a feeling of importance and respect to the other person.

2. Being interesting and inspirational

The role of a leader is to help the organisation achieve its goals. To do this, you must be an engaging communicator – clear, confident and compelling so that those being led take initiative in working towards the goals. Interesting and inspirational leaders make it easy for others to follow.

3. Imparting honesty and consistency

Clear communication from the beginning is crucial to making sure projects are well received and acted on. From the very beginning, it takes honesty and consistency on each aspect of the project. When you communicate clearly as a leader, and are consistent in your opinions, it builds trust and avoids conflict and misunderstandings.

4. Being a role model

Effective leadership and communication skills have a direct link with how people behave and communicate with one other. If you want everyone to communicate in a transparent and open way, then you should being following this advice yourself. Anyone can hand out information, but it’s a skill to communicate information in a way that is heard and understood by others.

5. Being an active listener

Excellent listening skills are paramount to learning how others are feeling. Communication is not a one-way street, much of it is about truly listening and understanding others. If a person feels that a leader understands them, they will be much more willing to voice an opinion, thoughts and ideas – a positive sign for any organisation.

Communicating clearly takes practice. People want more than just information from a leader, they want and need to believe in the leader and their own abilities.

Thanks to Dawn Bentley at ustyled.com for inspiration for this post.

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