Posts Tagged ‘leader’

Communication is not just a core leadership skill but also a core ingredient to your success.  Communication includes speaking, writing and listening.  As a leader, you need to master all three.

Speaking

How many times each day do you speak.  Probably quite a few.  As a leader you need to get your message across as clearly as you can.  No matter whether it is a vision, one to one meeting or a presentation of results on performance you need to get your message across.

Writing

Emails, reports, letters to suppliers and customers, presentations, web content are just a few of the types of writing that you need to undertake.  All successful writing relies on you being clear on the purpose and thinking about how to structure it in the best way to make it as easy as possible to understand.

Listening

Listening is probably the most challenging of all the communication skills most likely because most of us are never taught to listen.  When we listen we get ideas, insights, suggestions, understanding and the chance to create even more success. 

You probably know that communication is key to your success.  So what would have the greatest impact when it came to you developing your communication effectiveness as a leader?

Being a leader can be rewarding and at the same time challenging.  Enthusiasm is a key characteristic of being a successful leader.  So what are some of the key benefits of being an enthusiastic leader?

Benefit 1: Others follow 

Who would you be most likely to follow.  Someone who is upbeat and focuses on results or someone who focuses on circumstances?

Benefit 2: People deliver more

Have you noticed that you deliver more and go that extra step when you are working alongside someone who is enthusiastic?   I know I have.

Benefit 3: You become a role model

People who want to achieve success, look to people who they already view as successful leaders to learn from them.  Enthusiastic leaders become a role model and someone to learn from.

Benefit 4: You build a reputation

As someone who finds a way of achieving and inspiring others even when the going gets tough.

Benefit 5: You achieve personal success

If you are enthusiastic, authentic, inspirational to others and have a reputation for getting results, personal success will follow.

The role of the leader can sometimes be difficult for those not in leadership roles to understand.  From my experience there are 6 key functions of  business leaders:

1. Providing the overall long term direction
2. Selecting the right strategies to achieve the overall long term direction
3. Making things happen without taking on all of the execution
4. Getting the right structure in place
5. Motivating and inspiring others
6. Develop people and in particular successors who will carry on the good work that they have done

I wonder what you would add to the list.  Leave a comment and let me know.