Communication Skills & Leadership - Organizational Communications Processes in Leadership Activity

"Sooth 't were a pleasant life to lead,
With nothing in the world to do
But just to blow a shepherd's reed,
The silent season thro'
And just to drive a flock to feed,-
Sheep - quiet, fond and few!"
- Laman Blanchard

Communication skills give leaders ways to connect with, understand and influence the needs of people. It would be so very pleasant to live the life depicted in Blanchard's musings.

Even though leadership combines the roles of shepherd, steward and orchestral conductor, people are not sheep, people do not dance to every tune, people will not feed on any old meal.

The primary leadership activity involves using organizational communications processes to establish relationships, garner commitment, advise and counsel and educate or develop their people.

Grow Relationships, Make Commitments

"Nature has given us two ears but only one mouth." - Benjamin Disraeli

However, God actually affirms, "death and life are in the power of the tongue". The meaning of that sentence is simply this - we should open our mouths and say [write or type] whatever it is that we want to bring into existence!

Wise leaders use their words to convey their most essential, important and useful thoughts - otherwise, leaders listen for the clues, pains, hopes and boundaries being communicated by others.

Powerful leaders tend to say profoundly meaningful things that will engage, connect and commit people to their cause.

Advise and Counsel by Discovering

"We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery." - Samuel Smiles

You can easily learn new things by using everyday organizational communications processes such as meetings, briefings, presentations, forums, discussions, written exchanges, casual conversations, reviews and coaching or consulting sessions.

Just how are leaders supposed to know what is profound or meaningful to other people?

People usually find ways to communicate those needs, desires and fears that are most important to them. People will always reveal those feelings or thoughts about themselves through their spoken, written and unspoken communications.

By asking how, what, why, when, with whom or where a person is doing something, you can glean much information about them and their impressions and preferences.

Educate, Develop and Train One Byte At A Time

"Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round."
- Josiah Gilbert Holland

Investing your time and energy into listening to others will help you learn more about their concerns, hopes and guiding beliefs.

You can incorporate the leadership activities, communication skills and organizational communications processes previously mentioned to help your people and yourself:

- Learn by structured doing [training]

- Learn by practicing and assessing [developing]

- Learn by experimenting, exploring and discussing [educating]

Be the leader other people appreciate and look forward to communicating with - master these skills and watch your associates grow, flourish and succeed.

Mustard Seed Investments Inc., Copyright © 2005, All rights reserved.

Bill Thomas provides helpful guidance through the "Leadership-UltraNet!" - an affordable, guaranteed, leadership skills training program featuring personal attention, comprehensive resources and follow-up support for your growth. Learn how the UltraNet! empowers your Leadership performance today, in every way!
http://www.leadership-toolkit.c om/Leadership_UltraNet.html

---

Peek Inside The Heads of Amazingly Successful Leaders

Would you like to know what really goes on inside... Read More

Secrets of Creating Success with Ease

Do you ever strum your fingers on the desk top... Read More

Leadership Activity: How Leadership Agenda, Strategy, and Behaviors Shape Your Success!

"Forward, as occasion offers. Never look round to see whether... Read More

Choose Your Best Life: Where Are Your Choices Leading You?

According to the dictionary choice means "to select freely after... Read More

The Seven Mistakes to Avoid when Organising Your Student Leadership Program

How do you measure the success of a training or... Read More

Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times

Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a... Read More

Transformational Leadership

"What is leadership?" When this question is asked most of... Read More

Leadership Is Power: Test Your Ethics

"The payoff for the ethical person is a reputation for... Read More

Why Not Lead With Emotions?

Studies have shown that companies that have acquired competencies to... Read More

Abe Lincoln: An Extraordinary Leader

Perhaps noted as one of the greatest United States presidents... Read More

Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages

If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More

Premature Articulation

Ask anyone about what makes a good leader and they... Read More

The Four Laws Of Leadership (Part One)

Leadership is motivational or it's stumbling in the dark. After... Read More

Make The Elephant Jump -- Leading With A Kind Heart

Leadership is not about getting people to do what they... Read More

Effective Leaders are (#1) Conceptual

SEE INTO THE FUTURE CREATIVELY AND PRACTICALITY: Planning day-to-day is... Read More

Learn How to Lead People

"Who rules or guides or inspires others"Having excellent guide skills... Read More

Career Advice for Business Leaders: Empowering Others

Many potential leaders in business sabotage themselves and their organizations... Read More

E=MC - Is It In Me?

How many times have you seen the E = MC2... Read More

Effective Listening Equals Effective Leadership: Learn How!

No matter what role you play in your company, becoming... Read More

Reveal the Leader Within

A Leader is not a certain type of person or... Read More

Birth Order - Understand How It Affects Your Personality

"Know thyself" is a powerful principle that leaders, managers and... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 5, Dominant Participants

While dominant participants contribute significantly to the success of a... Read More

Leadership: Seed or Fruit?

Purpose: Learn immediately if you are fostering leadership or ignoring... Read More

Wisdom From The Rock

He grew up in Brooklyn, the son of an ex-con... Read More

Leadership for the Successful Entrepreneur!

Why talk about leadership?"Leadership is important whether you a leader... Read More

The Leadership Strategy: An Unmined Comstock Lode of Results

During the Second World War, Winston Churchill had a framed... Read More

Miraculous Leadership

It was a time of turmoil. In November 1979, supporters... Read More

The Four Laws Of Leadership (Part Two)

In Part One, I described the laws of motivation. In... Read More

C4 Leadership: Taking Your Leadership (and your Life) from Good...To Explosive!

Chances are if you're interested in this post, you're looking... Read More

You Make The Difference

What do you think makes your company successful? Your newest... Read More

Partnership: Choose It or Lose It

Charlotte decides to do good. Charlotte is a highly motivated... Read More

The Code of the Conference Leader

Are your meetings generally a waste of time? Do you... Read More

Seven Personal Characteristics Of A Good Leader

How often have you heard the comment, "He or she... Read More