Effective Leaders are (#3) Communicative

LISTEN, WRITE, AND ARTICULATE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership positions require effective communication skills. Basic confidence in the art of information sharing is absolutely necessary for effective leadership. Although mastering all of these skills is ideal, it is not always necessary. Creative leaders can develop teams to support them in areas of weakness. One of the strengths of a leader is the capacity to recognize those communication areas in which he or she is weakest and then to supplement them. If for example, the area is listening, a leader might request a written summary for follow-up. If the area is writing, they could delegate the writing up of their ideas. No effective leader, however, can delegate the ability to articulate. Verbal communication must be an effective part of a leader's repertoire.

DEVELOP YOUR OWN STYLE: No personal style is better than another. You can only be as effective as you are comfortable doing what you are doing. One of the most difficult situations to overcome is inconsistency between thoughts and emotions. People need to respect their leaders and believe that they are in control of the situation. Attempting to "act managerial" if your style is more folksy and low-key will only lead to a misperception of your ability to handle a job.

WORK WITH NOT OVER: Use positive reinforcement-no matter what the initial quality may be -- to create feelings of involvement. According to Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager, there are three types of feedback for performance. "Seagull mangers" are managers who fly in quickly, make a lot of noise, and dump on everyone. As a result, productivity goes down. "Let alone zap managers" are managers who are seldom seen except when an employee does something wrong and then ZAP! they get it. Since the Zap manager never reinforces performance, productivity also goes down. Finally, "positive regard managers" provide positive feedback as often as they can, spending time looking for work that has been done well. This does not rule out criticism, as long as the manager recognizes that criticism may be presented in many ways. Constructive, supportive criticism achieves the maximum desired effect.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

---

Leadership Tips From My Dad

Lee (L.B.) Weiss (Sept. 21/25 ? April 30/82)My dad has... Read More

Ten Qualities Of A Great Leader - Plus 1

Great Leaders are optimists first and foremost. Their tendency is... Read More

Five Things Smart Leaders Do to Lower The Barriers To Change

Smart leaders understand that they don't "make" a change happen.... Read More

Get What You Want - Negotiating Skills for the Timid!

OK, I know this title sounds self-serving and hard nosed,... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More

Building Teams and Teamwork

A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More

5 Power Keys For Leadership Success!

Did you know that you can successfully handle most leadership... Read More

5 Human Capital Asset Enrichment Strategies for Leaders!

Here's a really simple way to think about the ins... Read More

Leadership Is Action?Not Position!

People respond to good leadership! Period! It is in all... Read More

Five Surprisingly Hip Politicial Ideas From Plato

Don't you love politics?Me, neither. But I do like thinking... Read More

Miraculous Leadership

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

Heres The REAL Reason Bush Won: The Dark Night Of The Leadership Soul

George Bush won the election because he was finally able... Read More

Shades of Grey: Government, Religion, & People

Some think that everything is black and white. I'm beginning... Read More

All You Really Want Is Feeling Good

If I asked you what your goal in life is,... Read More

The Leader Within

Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More

BIG-3 Leadership!

"Do what you do so well that they will want... Read More

Dont Be a Complainer

Complaining. There's room for legitimate complaining, but if you let... Read More

UNCLOS III Process model

The United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea was... Read More

The Incandescence Of The Human Spirit

There lives within every individual a power, an energy, an... Read More

Leadership For Deep Results: Without Them Are You Wasting Your Leadership And Your Life? (Part Two)

How does one go about getting deep results? There are... Read More

Leadership Training and Character

The vast majority of leadership training available to managers focuses... Read More

Leadership In The Zone!

"You do not merely want to be considered just the... Read More

What Does Exceptional Business Success Require of Us?

To excel in business we need conscious command of all... Read More

3 Aspects of Developing Leadership Skills

Everyone knows that great leaders are made, not born. However... Read More

Leadership Challenges: The Walls In Our Lives

We have all experienced walls or challenges in our work... Read More

Seven Personal Characteristics Of A Good Leader

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

A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!

Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More

Mentor? Who Needs A Mentor?

Who needs a mentor. . .everyone who is truly serious... Read More

Premature Articulation

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

Lessons In Leadership: What Not To Do... From A Canoe!

When it comes to fishing, my husband takes the lead.... Read More

Ten Steps To Effective Leadership

Many people end up in a supervisory position or SOHO... Read More

Two Vital Abilities Any Leader Must Have

As a business owner, you are a leader whether you... Read More

Fighting the Gravitational Pull of Positional Leadership

A little on leadership?Many people enter the leadership world through... Read More